The coronavirus disease(COVID-19)pandemic has led to a global struggle to cope with the sheer numbers of infected persons,many of whom require intensive care support or eventually succumb to the illness.The outbreak i...The coronavirus disease(COVID-19)pandemic has led to a global struggle to cope with the sheer numbers of infected persons,many of whom require intensive care support or eventually succumb to the illness.The outbreak is managed by a combination of disease containment via public health measures and supportive care for those who are affected.To date,there is no specific anti-COVID-19 treatment.However,the urgency to identify treatments that could turn the tide has led to the emergence of several investigational drugs as potential candidates to improve outcome,especially in the severe to critically ill.While many of these adjunctive drugs are being investigated in clinical trials,professional bodies have attempted to clarify the setting where the use of these drugs may be considered as off-label or compassionate use.This review summarizes the clinical evidence of investigational adjunctive treatments used in COVID-19 patients as well as the recommendations of their use from guidelines issued by international and national organizations in healthcare.展开更多
Background Hyperprolactinaemia is a common adverse effect of antipsychotics （APs）. The results of Peony-Glycyrrhiza decoction （PGD） as a potentially useful adjunctivetreatment for hyperprolactinaemia are inconsis...Background Hyperprolactinaemia is a common adverse effect of antipsychotics （APs）. The results of Peony-Glycyrrhiza decoction （PGD） as a potentially useful adjunctivetreatment for hyperprolactinaemia are inconsistent.Aim This meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials （RCTs） examined the effcacy and safety of adjunctive PGDtherapy for AP-induced hyperprolactinaemia.Methods English （PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO） and Chinese （Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data） databases were systematicallysearched up to 10 June 2018. The inclusion criteria were based on PICOS-Participants： adult patients with schizophrenia; Intervention： PGD plus APs; Comparison： APs plus placebo or AP monotherapy; Outcomes： effcacy and safety; Study design： RCTs. The weighted mean difference （WMD） and risk ratio （RR） along with their 95% CIs were calculated using Review Manager （RevMan） V.5.3 software.Results Five RCTs （n=450） were included and analysed. Two RCTs （n=140） were double-blind and four RCTs （n=409） reported ‘random’ assignment with specifc description. The PGD group showed a signifcantly lower serum prolactin level at endpoint than the control group （n=380, WMD： ？32.69 ng/mL （95% CI -41.66 to 23.72）, p〈0.00001, I2=97%）. Similarly, the superiority of PGD over the control groups was also found in the improvement of hyperprolactinaemia-related symptoms. No difference was found in the improvement of psychiatric symptoms assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale （n=403, WMD： -0.62 （95% CI -2.38 to 1.15）, p=0.49, I^2=0%）. There were similar rates of all-cause discontinuation （n=330, RR 0.93 （95% CI 0.63 to 1.37）, p=0.71, I^2=0%） and adverse drug reactions between the two groups. According to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach, the level of evidence of primary and secondary outcomes ranged from ‘very low’ （14.3%）, ‘low’ （42.8%）, ‘moderate’ （14.3%）, to ‘high’ （28.6%）.Conclusions Current evidence supports the adjunctive use of PGD to suppress elevated prolactin and improve prolactin-induced symptoms without signifcant adverse events in adult patients with AP-induced hyperprolactinaemia. High-quality RCTs with longer duration are needed to confrm these fndings.展开更多
Objective The trial was designed to evaluate the safety and performance of the ev3 Protégé TM stent in the treatment of de novo or re-stenotic common and/or internal carotid artery stenoses with adjunctive u...Objective The trial was designed to evaluate the safety and performance of the ev3 Protégé TM stent in the treatment of de novo or re-stenotic common and/or internal carotid artery stenoses with adjunctive use of a CE-marked filter embolic protection device.Methods This study was a prospective multi-center, single-arm trial. Between June and October 2003, 77 patients were enrolled in 8 investigational centers throughout Europe. The primary endpoint was the incidence of Major Neurological Events (MANE) through one month. Other endpoints were the ability to properly place the stent, and primary patency and MANE after six months. Eligible for the study were patients with a de novo or restenotic target lesion located in the common and/or internal carotid artery (>70% stenosis for asymptomatic and >50% stenosis for symptomatic patients). The ev3 Spider (Embolic Protection Filter was used in 75 of 77 cases. Results In 76 out of the 77 patients (99%), the stent could be successfully implanted with a residual stenosis ≤30% as criterion. Of the 74 patients that had a carotid ultrasound at one month follow-up, none had a re-stenosis of the target lesion. There were three MANEs during or immediately after the procedure (3.9%), two were major and one was a minor stroke. There were eight severe complications (9.1%); six of these happened during or immediately after the procedure and were related to the procedure, none was related to the device. They are resolved without sequelae. No deaths have occurred.Conclusions The Protégé stent is safe and performs well in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. The technical success rate for placement of the Protégé stent as assessed by the residual stenosis post implant was very high and all stents were successfully deployed. The incidence of MANE was comparable with that in other recent carotid stent studies and still lower than standard CEA.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate current evidence on the efficacy and safety of Cordyceps sinensis(cordyceps)or its fermented products used as an adjunctive treatment in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.METHODS: The...OBJECTIVE: To evaluate current evidence on the efficacy and safety of Cordyceps sinensis(cordyceps)or its fermented products used as an adjunctive treatment in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.METHODS: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials(CENTRAL), EMBASE, MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) and Wanfang Database were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials up to March 2016. Two review authors independently selected trials for inclusion,extracted data, assessed the methodological quality and rated the quality of evidence with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.RESULTS: Twelve studies involving 655 participants were included. Evidence of low to moderate-quality showed that cordyceps plus conventional treatment compared to conventional treatment alone significantly improved C-reactive protein [standardized mean difference(SMD)-0.61; 95% confi-dence intervals(CI)-1.00 to-0.22], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [weighted mean difference(WMD)-3.44 mg/L; 95% CI-3.89 to-2.99], serum albumin(WMD 3.07 g/L; 95% CI 1.59 to 4.55),malondialdehyde(WMD-1.95 nmol/L; 95% CI-2.24 to-1.66), and hemoglobin(WMD 9.56 g/L;95% CI 3.65 to 15.47) levels. However, there was no significant improvement for serum creatinine and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Overall, most trials either did not monitor adverse events or poorly documented them.CONCLUSION: Given the small number of trials included, the unclear methodological quality of the included trials, and the high heterogeneity in pooled analyses, the evidence obtained in this review is insufficient to recommend the use of cordyceps as adjunctive treatment in hemodialysis patients.展开更多
Treatment of type 1 diabetes(T1 D) is currently based exclusively on insulin replacement therapy. However, there is a need for better glycemic control, lower hypoglycemia rates, more effective weight management, and f...Treatment of type 1 diabetes(T1 D) is currently based exclusively on insulin replacement therapy. However, there is a need for better glycemic control, lower hypoglycemia rates, more effective weight management, and further reduction of cardiovascular risk in people with T1 D. In this context, agents from the pharmaceutical quiver of type 2 diabetes are being tested in clinical trials, as adjunctive to insulin therapies for T1 D patients. Despite the limited amount of relevant evidence and the inter-class variability, it can be said that these agents have a role in optimizing metabolic control, assisting weight management and reducing glycemic variability in people with T1 D. Specific safety issues, including the increased risk of hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis, as well as the effects of these treatments on major cardiovascular outcomes should be further assessed by future studies, before these therapeutic choices become widely available for T1 D management.展开更多
Objective： This study was designed as an open-label trial to assess the effects of changing the antiepileptic drugs （AEDs） regimen to lamotrigine （LTG） as adjunctive/monotherapy in patients with partial seizures ...Objective： This study was designed as an open-label trial to assess the effects of changing the antiepileptic drugs （AEDs） regimen to lamotrigine （LTG） as adjunctive/monotherapy in patients with partial seizures who were dissatisfied with their drug regimen because of intractable seizures. Methods： The patients were recruited from mulficenters using the following criteria： age≥ 18 years; at least 3 seizures per month during the last 16 weeks; previous use of at least 3 AEDs. The study involved a baseline phase and 2 experimental phases： LTG was first added to the regimen, and then patients could gradually change to LTG monotherapy if their seizures were reduced by at least 50 percent/month. Tolerability, the primary end point, was assessed using the Liverpool Adverse Experience Profile （LAEP）. Secondary end points included quality of life, as measured with the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 inventory. Reductions in seizures from baseline throughout each phase were also analyzed. Results： One hundred and fourteen patients aged between 18 and 52 years （age 27.8___ 13.2 years; 71 men and 43 women） were enrolled. After adding LTG, 105 patients （92.11%） Completed adjunctive therapy. Upon completion of the adjunctive phase, mean improvement from baseline was 2.6 points on the LAEP （p=0.037）. The overall score on the QOLIE-31 improved by 8.49 points from baseline （p=0.023）. At the end of the trial, 26 （22.81%） of patients completed LTG monotherapy, and 65 patients （57.02%） experienced at least 50% reduction in seizure frequency compared to baseline, The mean improvement from baseline was 5.1 points on the LAEP （p=0.0059）, and the overall score on the QOLIE-31 score improved by 12,72 points from baseline（p=0,0071）. Twenty-two （19.30%） patients reported adverse effects and 9 patients discontinued participation in the trial because of adverse effects. Conclusion： For patients with partial seizures who were dissatisfied with their AED regimen because of intractable seizures, adding LTG to the drug regimen was well tolerated and effective in improving the quality of life and controlling seizures. Furthermore, switching to LTG monotherapy was associated with further improvement.展开更多
Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder(RCBD)is a phase of bipolar disorder defined by the presence of≥4 mood episodes in a year.It is a common phenomenon characterized by greater severity,a predominance of depression,higher ...Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder(RCBD)is a phase of bipolar disorder defined by the presence of≥4 mood episodes in a year.It is a common phenomenon characterized by greater severity,a predominance of depression,higher levels of disability,and poorer overall outcomes.It is resistant to treatment by conventional pharmacotherapy.The existing literature underlines the scarcity of evidence and the gaps in knowledge about the optimal treatment strategies for RCBD.However,most reviews have considered only pharmacological treatment options for RCBD.Given the treatment-refractory nature of RCBD,nonpharmacological interventions could augment medications but have not been adequately examined.This review carried out an updated and comprehensive search for evidence regarding the role of nonpharmacological therapies as adjuncts to medications in RCBD.We identified 83 reviews and meta-analyses concerning the treatment of RCBD.Additionally,we found 42 reports on adjunctive nonpharmacological treatments in RCBD.Most of the evidence favoured concomitant electroconvulsive therapy as an acute and maintenance treatment.There was preliminary evidence to suggest that chronotherapeutic treatments can provide better outcomes when combined with medications.The research on adjunctive psychotherapy was particularly scarce but suggested that psychoeducation,cognitive behavioural therapy,family interventions,and supportive psychotherapy may be helpful.The overall quality of evidence was poor and suffered from several methodological shortcomings.There is a need for more methodologically sound research in this area,although clinicians can use the existing evidence to select and individualize nonpharmacological treatment options for better management of RCBD.Patient summaries are included to highlight some of the issues concerning the implementation of adjunctive nonpharmacological treatments.展开更多
BACKGROUND Selective laser trabeculoplasty(SLT)is a relatively safe and effective therapy in lowering intraocular pressures(IOP)for glaucoma.AIM To study the long-term effects of SLT on IOP and number of glaucoma medi...BACKGROUND Selective laser trabeculoplasty(SLT)is a relatively safe and effective therapy in lowering intraocular pressures(IOP)for glaucoma.AIM To study the long-term effects of SLT on IOP and number of glaucoma medications used in Chinese eyes.METHODS This is a retrospective study in which 75 eyes of 70 patients with open-angle glaucoma(OAG,n=36)and eyes with prior glaucoma surgery(PGS,n=39)were included.Changes in mean IOP and number of glaucoma medications used evaluated at 1 d,1 wk,1 mo,3 mo,6 mo,12 mo,and 36 mo after laser treatment.RESULTS All patients(33 male,37 female)were Chinese.The mean age was 44.34±16.14years.Mean pre-SLT IOP was 22.75±2.08 mmHg in OAG and 22.52±2.62 mmHg in PGS.Mean IOP was significantly reduced 1 d,1 wk,1 mo and 3 mo after laser treatment(P<0.05,respectively).Whereas,there were no significant differences between baseline and SLT treated groups at the 6th month both in OAG(P=0.347,P>0.05)and in PGS(P=0.309,P>0.05).Six months after SLT treatment,some patients received retreatment of SLT or were given more topical IOP-lowering medication to control the IOP.By the end of our study,the average IOP decreased to 20.73±1.82 mmHg in OAG and 20.49±1.53 mmHg in PGS groups.The number of glaucoma medications used was significantly reduced until the end of 3 years compared to baseline.CONCLUSION SLT could reduce IOP as adjunctive treatment both in OAG and PGS groups.SLT significantly reduced the number of glaucoma medications used 3-years following treatment in glaucoma patients.展开更多
Objective: Adjunctive therapy is often used for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) following an inadequate response to an antidepressant. However, there is little information regarding its practice within pr...Objective: Adjunctive therapy is often used for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) following an inadequate response to an antidepressant. However, there is little information regarding its practice within primary care in the United Kingdom (UK). Objectives of the study were to examine incidence and predictors of adjunctive pharmacotherapy among patients with MDD treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by UK general practitioners (GPs). Methods: The General Practice Research Database was used to identify 15,274 MDD patients prescribed first-line treatment with SSRIs from 2006-2008 (latest patient follow-up towards end of 2010). Treatment trajectories were identified and classified as adjunctive therapy, combination therapy, drug switches, dose increases, and restart of therapy. Incidence and predictors of adjunctive therapy were assessed, and healthcare resource utilization was evaluated. Results: Overall incidence of adjunctive therapy was 3.07/100 person years (95% CI 2.90-3.25). Patients prescribed adjunctive therapy were more likely to be female (IRR 1.15, p = 0.03), of higher age (IRRs 1.51-2.60, p ≤ 0.001), and had a greater depression severity score (IRR 1.02, p = 0.003). Presence of irritable bowel syndrome (IRR 1.53, p = 0.001), and an increasing Charlson Comorbidity Index (IRR 1.15, p = 0.01) were associated with a higher incidence of adjunctive therapy. MDD-related general practitioner consultations among patients who received adjunctive therapy was lower compared with patients receiving other treatment interventions (IRRs 0.79 - 0.87, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Adjunctive therapy is infrequently utilized relative to other treatment options for management of MDD among patients who are inadequate responders to their SSRI treatments in UK primary care;however some groups are more likely to receive adjunctive therapy than others.展开更多
Edivoxetine is a highly selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI) that has been investigated in short-term studies as adjunctive therapy to?selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) in pat...Edivoxetine is a highly selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI) that has been investigated in short-term studies as adjunctive therapy to?selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who were partial responders to their SSRIs. This 52-week open-label study investigated the safety and tolerability of longer-term treatment with adjunctive edivoxetine in patients with MDD in Japan, who had completed one of two placebo-controlled acute studies of edivoxetine as adjunctive therapy to SSRIs. All patients continued on their stable dose of SSRI. Two hundred eighty-eight patients were enrolled and assessed for up to 1 year using standard safety and tolerability measures. Of these, 195 patients previously received only placebo in the parent study and, therefore, were first exposed to edivoxetine in this study. Approximately 46% of patients completed the study. The most frequently cited (>5%) reasons for discontinuation were sponsor decision (19.4%, which included patients discontinued due to early study termination), adverse event (17.4%) and subject decision (8.7%). Adverse events leading to discontinuation in more than 2 patients (>1%) were palpitations, vomiting, hepatic function abnormal, hypertension, nausea, and tachycardia. Treatment-emergent elevations in diastolic blood pressure and pulse were at least twice that reported in the literature for non-Asian patients. Twenty percent of patients had sustained elevations in pulse. Treatment-emergent changes in laboratory measures were small and not clinically meaningful. Assessment across all safety measures in this study indicated that the safety profile of edivoxetine was consistent with that expected for a selective NRI.展开更多
<b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Background:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">During ...<b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Background:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">During several years, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) played a significant role in the health of periodontal tissues.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The goals of prosthodontics management are to restore the missing teeth, provide the loss of teeth functions, and establish acceptable dental esthetics, and there are some evidence</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">reveal</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ing</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> the passive effects of snuff</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">on the results of prosthodontics and periodontal treatment</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> so the present study </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">is </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">performed to evaluate the outcomes of topical application of ascorbic acid solution as an adjunctive method of periodontal therapy among wet sniff users after prosthodontics therapy.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methods:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The clinical situation was evaluated in 150 moderate periodontitis patients after conventional periodontal and prosthodontics therapy. They were selected from outpatient clinics, college of dentistry, King Khalid University, and from some hospitals Ministry of Health in Tabuk, Jazan and Aseer regions. The study was conducted from September 2020 to December 2020. The time of post-treatment assessment was one year. The study was included 50 patients </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">who </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">don</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">’</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">t use wet snuff as a group I (GI) (control group), 50 patients wet snuff users as group II (GII), and 50 patients wet snuff users were treated with topical application of ascorbic acid solution as group III (GIII). The participants were aged over 20 years, with a mean age of 35 years. The duration of using wet snuff was at least one year. Plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded at baseline (first visit), then after 4</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weeks</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(second visit) and after 6</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weeks</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(third visit) of conventional periodontal therapy and topical application of ascorbic acid solution. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA test and paired t-test. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">According to statistical analysis, there was the inclination of decrease in the mean and </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">standard deviation of plaque index (PLI) from 2.8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">1.4 to 2.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.51, and 2.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">7</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.33 in group II, and decrease from 2.7</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.34 to 2.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.23 and 2.6</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.65 in group III. Similarly in the gingival index (GI)</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> there was a decrease in the mean and standard deviation from 2.8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.52 to 2.3</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.62 and 2.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.51 in group II and a decrease from 2.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.8 to 2.3</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.58 and 2.4</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.47 in group III. Moreover, there was a decrease in the mean and standard deviation of clinical attachment loss (CAL) from 4.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.26 to 3.9</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.83 and 4.2</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.83 in group II and from 4.2</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.31 to 3.8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.46 and 3.8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.31 in group III;less than group I without significance differences (p > 0. 05) in all study groups at baseline and after 4</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weeks, and 6</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weeks of follow up except CAL. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> The results of our study displayed that periodontal parameters vary among wet snuff users after topical application of ascorbic acid solution as an adjunctive method of periodontal therapy</span>展开更多
BACKGROUND Refractory septic shock is a critical and multifaceted condition that continues to pose significant challenges in critical care.AIM To systematically review randomized trials on emerging interventions for r...BACKGROUND Refractory septic shock is a critical and multifaceted condition that continues to pose significant challenges in critical care.AIM To systematically review randomized trials on emerging interventions for refractory septic shock,assessing mortality,vasopressor use,intensive care unit(ICU)length of stay,and organ dysfunction.METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane CENTRAL Library,and Web of Science for studies published between 2000 and 2024.Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials(RCT)evaluating innovative therapies for refractory septic shock.Variables of interest:The primary outcome was allcause mortality among patients treated with novel interventions.Secondary outcomes included length of stay in the ICU,total hospital length of stay,and use of vasoactive drugs.Methodological rigor was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.RESULTS From 850 records,24 RCTs met the inclusion criteria,evaluating therapies such as methylene blue,vasopressin,terlipressin,and combinations of hydrocortisone,vitamin C,and thiamine.Mortality rates ranged from 28.6%to 56.8%.Methylene blue reduced vasopressor dependency in patients requiring high norepinephrine doses by 1.0 vasopressor-free day,and terlipressin improved renal perfusion by 13.1%.Combination therapies enhanced secondary outcomes,including reductions in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score.However,no single intervention consistently demonstrated significant survival benefits.CONCLUSION Adjunctive therapies for refractory septic shock may improve hemodynamics and organ function,however,they have not been shown to consistently reduce mortality.Larger trials are needed to confirm these findings.Multimodal approaches targeting inflammation are critical.展开更多
Microbial infection is a principal etiological factor in pulp and periapical diseases,necessitating effective root canal therapy(RCT)for thorough decontamination of the root canal system.However,conventional mechanica...Microbial infection is a principal etiological factor in pulp and periapical diseases,necessitating effective root canal therapy(RCT)for thorough decontamination of the root canal system.However,conventional mechanical and chemical preparation methods remain inadequate,often leaving significant portions of the canal uncleaned and contributing to persistent infection.The advent of erbium laser-assisted chemical preparation has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing root canal disinfection through advanced fluid dynamics mechanisms,particularly cavitation and photoacoustic streaming.This review explores the fundamental principles governing fluid dynamics in erbium laser-assisted irrigation,with a focus on primary and secondary cavitation effects.The interaction between erbium laser energy and water generates vapor bubbles that induce dynamic fluid movement,enhancing the penetration and distribution of irrigants deep within the root canal system.Key factors influencing fluid dynamics intensity,including laser parameters,working tip design,and water medium confinement,are critically analyzed.Furthermore,recent advancements such as Photon-Initiated Photoacoustic Streaming(PIPS),Photoacoustic Synchronized Transients(PHAST),and Shock Wave Enhanced Emission Photoacoustic Streaming(SWEEPS)are reviewed in the context of their ability to improve fluid motion and irrigation efficacy.While these laser-assisted techniques offer promising improvements over traditional methods,challenges remain in optimizing energy parameters and mitigating the constraints imposed by confined root canal environments.Future research should focus on refining fluid dynamics models and conducting clinical studies to validate the efficacy of these innovations.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current developments in fluid dynamics research related to erbium laser-assisted chemical preparation,offering insights into its potential as an advanced modality for root canal disinfection.展开更多
BACKGROUND Perinatal depression affects 10%-20%of pregnant women and subsequently influences maternal health and fetal development.Concerns over the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy have prompted the explora...BACKGROUND Perinatal depression affects 10%-20%of pregnant women and subsequently influences maternal health and fetal development.Concerns over the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy have prompted the exploration of nutritional interventions as adjunct therapies.This study evaluated the impact of combining preconception and prenatal supplementation with myo-inositol,probiotics,and trace elements on mood,quality of life,and fetal development in depressed mothers.This retrospective cohort study included 314 pregnant women who were diag-nosed with mild to moderate depression,as determined by a Zung self-rating depression scale score of less than 69.The participants were divided into an intervention group(n=161)receiving myo-inositol,probiotics,and trace elements and a control group(n=153)without supplementation.Supplementation comm-enced 3 months before conception and continued through pregnancy.Psychiatric symptoms and quality of life were evaluated using the positive and negative affect schedule-now,state-trait anxiety inventory,Patient Health Ques-tionnaire-8,and World Health Organization Quality of life Assessment:Brief Version scales preconception and postpartum.Fetal development metrics were assessed via ultrasound,and neonatal outcomes were recorded.RESULTS The intervention group presented significant reductions in gestational diabetes mellitus(13.04%vs 23.53%,P=0.016)and gestational hypertension(3.73%vs 9.15%,P=0.049).Higher levels of inositol,iron,zinc,and probiotics were observed near term in the intervention group.Postpartum mood assessments indicated lower anxiety and depression scores for the intervention group,with significant improvements in the positive and negative affect schedule-now(P=0.002),trait anxiety(P=0.002),and Patient Health Questionnaire-8(P=0.018)scores.The World Health Organization Quality of life Assessment:Brief Version scores improved in the psychological(P=0.041)and environmental(P=0.009)domains postpartum.Fetal biparietal diameter and femoral length were greater in the intervention group alongside better neonatal body length and reduced neonatal unit admissions(2.48%vs 7.84%,P=0.031).CONCLUSION Combined supplementation with myo-inositol,probiotics,and trace elements from preconception through pregnancy may reduce pregnancy-related complications,enhance mood and quality of life,and improve fetal growth metrics.展开更多
BACKGROUND Demineralized bone matrix(DBM)is a commonly utilized allogenic bone graft substitute to promote osseous union.However,little is known regarding outcomes following DBM utilization in foot and ankle surgical ...BACKGROUND Demineralized bone matrix(DBM)is a commonly utilized allogenic bone graft substitute to promote osseous union.However,little is known regarding outcomes following DBM utilization in foot and ankle surgical procedures.AIM To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes following DBM as a biological adjunct in foot and ankle surgical procedures.METHODS During May 2023,the PubMed,EMBASE and Cochrane library databases were systematically reviewed to identify clinical studies examining outcomes following DBM for the management of various foot and ankle pathologies.Data regarding study characteristics,patient demographics,subjective clinical outcomes,radiological outcomes,complications,and failure rates were extracted and analyzed.In addition,the level of evidence(LOE)and quality of evidence(QOE)for each individual study was also assessed.Thirteen studies were included in this review.RESULTS In total,363 patients(397 ankles and feet)received DBM as part of their surgical procedure at a weighted mean follow-up time of 20.8±9.2 months.The most common procedure performed was ankle arthrodesis in 94 patients(25.9%).Other procedures performed included hindfoot fusion,1st metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis,5th metatarsal intramedullary screw fixation,hallux valgus correction,osteochondral lesion of the talus repair and unicameral talar cyst resection.The osseous union rate in the ankle and hindfoot arthrodesis cohort,base of the 5th metatarsal cohort,and calcaneal fracture cohort was 85.6%,100%,and 100%,respectively.The weighted mean visual analog scale in the osteochondral lesions of the talus cohort improved from a pre-operative score of 7.6±0.1 to a post-operative score of 0.4±0.1.The overall complication rate was 27.2%,the most common of which was non-union(8.8%).There were 43 failures(10.8%)all of which warranted a further surgical procedure.CONCLUSION This current systematic review demonstrated that the utilization of DBM in foot and ankle surgical procedures led to satisfactory osseous union rates with favorable wound complication rates.Excellent outcomes were observed in patients undergoing fracture fixation augmented with DBM,with mixed evidence supporting the routine use of DBM in fusion procedures of the ankle and hindfoot.However,the low LOE together with the low QOE and significant heterogeneity between the included studies reinforces the need for randomized control trials to be conducted to identify the optimal role of DBM in the setting of foot and ankle surgical procedures.展开更多
In patients with an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, timely myocardial reperfusion using primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective therapy for limiting myocardial infarct size, ...In patients with an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, timely myocardial reperfusion using primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective therapy for limiting myocardial infarct size, preserving left-ventricular systolic function and reducing the onset of heart failure. Within minutes after the restoration of blood flow, however, reperfusion itself results in additional damage, also known as myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. An improved understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying reperfusion injury has resulted in the identification ofseveral promising pharmacological(cyclosporin-A, exenatide, glucose-insulin-potassium, atrial natriuretic peptide, adenosine, abciximab, erythropoietin, metoprolol and melatonin) therapeutic strategies for reducing the severity of myocardial reperfusion injury. Many of these agents have shown promise in initial proofof-principle clinical studies. In this article, we review the pathophysiology underlying myocardial reperfusion injury and highlight the potential pharmacological interventions which could be used in the future to prevent reperfusion injury and improve clinical outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease.展开更多
AIM： To identify the proportion, causes and the nature of drug-induced liver injury （DILI） in patients with no- tably elevated alanine aminotransferase （ALT）. METHODS： All the inpatients with ALT levels above 10...AIM： To identify the proportion, causes and the nature of drug-induced liver injury （DILI） in patients with no- tably elevated alanine aminotransferase （ALT）. METHODS： All the inpatients with ALT levels above 10 times upper limit of normal range （ULN） were ret- rospectively identified from a computerized clinical laboratory database at our hospital covering a 12-mo period. Relevant clinical information was obtained from medical records. Alternative causes of ALT eleva- tions were examined for each patient, including bili- ary abnormality, viral hepatitis, hemodynamic injury, malignancy, DILI or undetermined and other causes. All suspected DILI cases were causality assessed usingthe Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences scale, and only the cases classified as highly probable, probable, or possible were diagnosed as DILI. Comments related to the diagnosis of DILI in the medical record and in the discharge letter for each case were also examined to evaluate DILI detection by the treating doctors. RESULTS： A total of 129 cases with ALT 〉 i0 ULN were identified. Hemodynamic injury （n = 46, 35.7%）, DILl （n = 25, 19.4%） and malignancy （n = 21, 16.3%） were the top three causes of liver injury. Peak ALT val- ues were lower in DILI patients than in patients with hemodynamic injury （14.5 5.6 ULN vs 32.5 ：I： 30.7 ULN, P = 0.001）. Among DILI patients, one （4%） case was classified as definite, 19 （76%） cases were clas- sified as probable and 5 （20%） as possible according to the ClOMS scale. A hepatocellular pattern was ob- served in 23 （92%） cases and mixed in 2 （8%）. The extent of severity of liver injury was mild in 21 （84%） patients and moderate in 4 （16%）. Before discharge, 10 （40%） patients were recovered and the other 15 （60%） were improved. The improved patients tended to have a higher peak ALT （808 ＋ 348 U/L vs 623 ＋ 118 U/L, P = 0.016） and shorter treatment duration before discharge （8 ＋ 6 d vs 28 ~ 12 d, P = 0.008） compared with the recovered patients. Twenty-two drugs and 6 herbs were found associated with DILl. Antibacterials were the most common agents causing DILI in 8 （32%） cases, followed by glucocorticoids in 6 （24%） cases. Twenty-four （96%） cases received treatment of DILl with at least one adjunctive drug. Agents for treatment of DILI included anti-inflammatory drugs （e.g., glycyr- rhizinate）, antioxidants （e.g., glutathione, ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate and tiopronin）, polyene phospha- tidyl choline and herbal extracts （e.g., protoporphyrin disodium and silymarin）. Diagnosis of DILl was not mentioned in the discharge letter in 60% of the cases. Relative to prevalent cases and cases from wards of internal medicine, incident cases and cases from surgi- cal wards had a higher risk of missed diagnosis in dis- charge letter [odds ratio （OR） 32.7, 95%CI （2.8-374.1）,CONCLUSION： DILI is mostly caused by use of anti- bacterials and glucocorticoids, and constitutes about one fifth of hospitalized patients with ALT 〉 10 ULN. DILI is underdiagnosed frequently.展开更多
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a rare primary liver cancer with a global increasing trend in recent years. Symptoms tend to be vague and insidious in development, often are diagnosed at an advanced stage whe...Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a rare primary liver cancer with a global increasing trend in recent years. Symptoms tend to be vague and insidious in development, often are diagnosed at an advanced stage when only palliative approaches can be used with a median survival rate of months. Comparing with HCC, ICC tends to spread to lymph nodes early, and is rarely limited to the regional lymph nodes, with a frequent postoperative recurrence. Surgery is the only choice of curative therapy for ICC, but recently no consensus has been established for operation. Thus, more data from multiple centers and more cases are needed. Generally speaking, current adjunctive therapy cannot clearly improve survival. Further research is needed to find more effective radio- and chemotherapeutic regimens.展开更多
Maxillofacial space infection (MSI) is one of the most common conditions encountered in oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics. Early recognition and proper management of MSI could prevent a life-threatening event. Ob...Maxillofacial space infection (MSI) is one of the most common conditions encountered in oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics. Early recognition and proper management of MSI could prevent a life-threatening event. Objectives: To report a series of MSI managed with antibiotics, surgical intervention and exogenous steroids as an adjunct, highlighting functional improvement following steroid administration. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out from December 2013 to September 2016, involving 30 patients (n = 30, 22 males, 8 females) diagnosed with MSI. All patients were initially managed with intravenous empirical antibiotics, analgesics and removal of potential source of infection. A course of 3 doses of IV Dexamethasone 8 mg at an interval of 8 hours was started during the first day of hospital admission. Results: This series reports 30 patients presenting with MSI, who received prompt antibiotics and 3 doses of steroids as inpatients. Significant clinical improvement was noted in the form of amelioration of pain, rapid reduction in edema, and improved trismus, shortening hospital stay to an average of 3.5 days, and omission of surgical intervention in 50% of our cases. No adverse effects or drug reaction was noted. Conclusion: In conclusion, the value of synergistic use of corticosteroids with antibiotics in management of MSI is significant. Despite these promising findings, there is scarce evidence in the literature to fully support the use of corticosteroids in abscess management. The role of corticosteroids in treatment of MSI should be explored further.展开更多
文摘The coronavirus disease(COVID-19)pandemic has led to a global struggle to cope with the sheer numbers of infected persons,many of whom require intensive care support or eventually succumb to the illness.The outbreak is managed by a combination of disease containment via public health measures and supportive care for those who are affected.To date,there is no specific anti-COVID-19 treatment.However,the urgency to identify treatments that could turn the tide has led to the emergence of several investigational drugs as potential candidates to improve outcome,especially in the severe to critically ill.While many of these adjunctive drugs are being investigated in clinical trials,professional bodies have attempted to clarify the setting where the use of these drugs may be considered as off-label or compassionate use.This review summarizes the clinical evidence of investigational adjunctive treatments used in COVID-19 patients as well as the recommendations of their use from guidelines issued by international and national organizations in healthcare.
基金supported by the University of Macao(SRG2014-00019-FHSMYRG2015-00230 FHS+4 种基金MYRG2016-00005-FHS)the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University(2016YFC0906302816713342014Y2-001052015BAI13B02)
文摘Background Hyperprolactinaemia is a common adverse effect of antipsychotics （APs）. The results of Peony-Glycyrrhiza decoction （PGD） as a potentially useful adjunctivetreatment for hyperprolactinaemia are inconsistent.Aim This meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials （RCTs） examined the effcacy and safety of adjunctive PGDtherapy for AP-induced hyperprolactinaemia.Methods English （PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO） and Chinese （Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data） databases were systematicallysearched up to 10 June 2018. The inclusion criteria were based on PICOS-Participants： adult patients with schizophrenia; Intervention： PGD plus APs; Comparison： APs plus placebo or AP monotherapy; Outcomes： effcacy and safety; Study design： RCTs. The weighted mean difference （WMD） and risk ratio （RR） along with their 95% CIs were calculated using Review Manager （RevMan） V.5.3 software.Results Five RCTs （n=450） were included and analysed. Two RCTs （n=140） were double-blind and four RCTs （n=409） reported ‘random’ assignment with specifc description. The PGD group showed a signifcantly lower serum prolactin level at endpoint than the control group （n=380, WMD： ？32.69 ng/mL （95% CI -41.66 to 23.72）, p〈0.00001, I2=97%）. Similarly, the superiority of PGD over the control groups was also found in the improvement of hyperprolactinaemia-related symptoms. No difference was found in the improvement of psychiatric symptoms assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale （n=403, WMD： -0.62 （95% CI -2.38 to 1.15）, p=0.49, I^2=0%）. There were similar rates of all-cause discontinuation （n=330, RR 0.93 （95% CI 0.63 to 1.37）, p=0.71, I^2=0%） and adverse drug reactions between the two groups. According to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach, the level of evidence of primary and secondary outcomes ranged from ‘very low’ （14.3%）, ‘low’ （42.8%）, ‘moderate’ （14.3%）, to ‘high’ （28.6%）.Conclusions Current evidence supports the adjunctive use of PGD to suppress elevated prolactin and improve prolactin-induced symptoms without signifcant adverse events in adult patients with AP-induced hyperprolactinaemia. High-quality RCTs with longer duration are needed to confrm these fndings.
文摘Objective The trial was designed to evaluate the safety and performance of the ev3 Protégé TM stent in the treatment of de novo or re-stenotic common and/or internal carotid artery stenoses with adjunctive use of a CE-marked filter embolic protection device.Methods This study was a prospective multi-center, single-arm trial. Between June and October 2003, 77 patients were enrolled in 8 investigational centers throughout Europe. The primary endpoint was the incidence of Major Neurological Events (MANE) through one month. Other endpoints were the ability to properly place the stent, and primary patency and MANE after six months. Eligible for the study were patients with a de novo or restenotic target lesion located in the common and/or internal carotid artery (>70% stenosis for asymptomatic and >50% stenosis for symptomatic patients). The ev3 Spider (Embolic Protection Filter was used in 75 of 77 cases. Results In 76 out of the 77 patients (99%), the stent could be successfully implanted with a residual stenosis ≤30% as criterion. Of the 74 patients that had a carotid ultrasound at one month follow-up, none had a re-stenosis of the target lesion. There were three MANEs during or immediately after the procedure (3.9%), two were major and one was a minor stroke. There were eight severe complications (9.1%); six of these happened during or immediately after the procedure and were related to the procedure, none was related to the device. They are resolved without sequelae. No deaths have occurred.Conclusions The Protégé stent is safe and performs well in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. The technical success rate for placement of the Protégé stent as assessed by the residual stenosis post implant was very high and all stents were successfully deployed. The incidence of MANE was comparable with that in other recent carotid stent studies and still lower than standard CEA.
基金Postgraduate Research Grant(No.PG130-2016A)of Institute of Research Management and Monitoring,University of Malaya,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
文摘OBJECTIVE: To evaluate current evidence on the efficacy and safety of Cordyceps sinensis(cordyceps)or its fermented products used as an adjunctive treatment in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.METHODS: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials(CENTRAL), EMBASE, MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) and Wanfang Database were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials up to March 2016. Two review authors independently selected trials for inclusion,extracted data, assessed the methodological quality and rated the quality of evidence with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.RESULTS: Twelve studies involving 655 participants were included. Evidence of low to moderate-quality showed that cordyceps plus conventional treatment compared to conventional treatment alone significantly improved C-reactive protein [standardized mean difference(SMD)-0.61; 95% confi-dence intervals(CI)-1.00 to-0.22], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [weighted mean difference(WMD)-3.44 mg/L; 95% CI-3.89 to-2.99], serum albumin(WMD 3.07 g/L; 95% CI 1.59 to 4.55),malondialdehyde(WMD-1.95 nmol/L; 95% CI-2.24 to-1.66), and hemoglobin(WMD 9.56 g/L;95% CI 3.65 to 15.47) levels. However, there was no significant improvement for serum creatinine and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Overall, most trials either did not monitor adverse events or poorly documented them.CONCLUSION: Given the small number of trials included, the unclear methodological quality of the included trials, and the high heterogeneity in pooled analyses, the evidence obtained in this review is insufficient to recommend the use of cordyceps as adjunctive treatment in hemodialysis patients.
文摘Treatment of type 1 diabetes(T1 D) is currently based exclusively on insulin replacement therapy. However, there is a need for better glycemic control, lower hypoglycemia rates, more effective weight management, and further reduction of cardiovascular risk in people with T1 D. In this context, agents from the pharmaceutical quiver of type 2 diabetes are being tested in clinical trials, as adjunctive to insulin therapies for T1 D patients. Despite the limited amount of relevant evidence and the inter-class variability, it can be said that these agents have a role in optimizing metabolic control, assisting weight management and reducing glycemic variability in people with T1 D. Specific safety issues, including the increased risk of hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis, as well as the effects of these treatments on major cardiovascular outcomes should be further assessed by future studies, before these therapeutic choices become widely available for T1 D management.
文摘Objective： This study was designed as an open-label trial to assess the effects of changing the antiepileptic drugs （AEDs） regimen to lamotrigine （LTG） as adjunctive/monotherapy in patients with partial seizures who were dissatisfied with their drug regimen because of intractable seizures. Methods： The patients were recruited from mulficenters using the following criteria： age≥ 18 years; at least 3 seizures per month during the last 16 weeks; previous use of at least 3 AEDs. The study involved a baseline phase and 2 experimental phases： LTG was first added to the regimen, and then patients could gradually change to LTG monotherapy if their seizures were reduced by at least 50 percent/month. Tolerability, the primary end point, was assessed using the Liverpool Adverse Experience Profile （LAEP）. Secondary end points included quality of life, as measured with the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 inventory. Reductions in seizures from baseline throughout each phase were also analyzed. Results： One hundred and fourteen patients aged between 18 and 52 years （age 27.8___ 13.2 years; 71 men and 43 women） were enrolled. After adding LTG, 105 patients （92.11%） Completed adjunctive therapy. Upon completion of the adjunctive phase, mean improvement from baseline was 2.6 points on the LAEP （p=0.037）. The overall score on the QOLIE-31 improved by 8.49 points from baseline （p=0.023）. At the end of the trial, 26 （22.81%） of patients completed LTG monotherapy, and 65 patients （57.02%） experienced at least 50% reduction in seizure frequency compared to baseline, The mean improvement from baseline was 5.1 points on the LAEP （p=0.0059）, and the overall score on the QOLIE-31 score improved by 12,72 points from baseline（p=0,0071）. Twenty-two （19.30%） patients reported adverse effects and 9 patients discontinued participation in the trial because of adverse effects. Conclusion： For patients with partial seizures who were dissatisfied with their AED regimen because of intractable seizures, adding LTG to the drug regimen was well tolerated and effective in improving the quality of life and controlling seizures. Furthermore, switching to LTG monotherapy was associated with further improvement.
文摘Rapid-cycling bipolar disorder(RCBD)is a phase of bipolar disorder defined by the presence of≥4 mood episodes in a year.It is a common phenomenon characterized by greater severity,a predominance of depression,higher levels of disability,and poorer overall outcomes.It is resistant to treatment by conventional pharmacotherapy.The existing literature underlines the scarcity of evidence and the gaps in knowledge about the optimal treatment strategies for RCBD.However,most reviews have considered only pharmacological treatment options for RCBD.Given the treatment-refractory nature of RCBD,nonpharmacological interventions could augment medications but have not been adequately examined.This review carried out an updated and comprehensive search for evidence regarding the role of nonpharmacological therapies as adjuncts to medications in RCBD.We identified 83 reviews and meta-analyses concerning the treatment of RCBD.Additionally,we found 42 reports on adjunctive nonpharmacological treatments in RCBD.Most of the evidence favoured concomitant electroconvulsive therapy as an acute and maintenance treatment.There was preliminary evidence to suggest that chronotherapeutic treatments can provide better outcomes when combined with medications.The research on adjunctive psychotherapy was particularly scarce but suggested that psychoeducation,cognitive behavioural therapy,family interventions,and supportive psychotherapy may be helpful.The overall quality of evidence was poor and suffered from several methodological shortcomings.There is a need for more methodologically sound research in this area,although clinicians can use the existing evidence to select and individualize nonpharmacological treatment options for better management of RCBD.Patient summaries are included to highlight some of the issues concerning the implementation of adjunctive nonpharmacological treatments.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province of China,No.2022NSFSC1400Youth Innovation Project of Sichuan Medical Association,No.Q15045。
文摘BACKGROUND Selective laser trabeculoplasty(SLT)is a relatively safe and effective therapy in lowering intraocular pressures(IOP)for glaucoma.AIM To study the long-term effects of SLT on IOP and number of glaucoma medications used in Chinese eyes.METHODS This is a retrospective study in which 75 eyes of 70 patients with open-angle glaucoma(OAG,n=36)and eyes with prior glaucoma surgery(PGS,n=39)were included.Changes in mean IOP and number of glaucoma medications used evaluated at 1 d,1 wk,1 mo,3 mo,6 mo,12 mo,and 36 mo after laser treatment.RESULTS All patients(33 male,37 female)were Chinese.The mean age was 44.34±16.14years.Mean pre-SLT IOP was 22.75±2.08 mmHg in OAG and 22.52±2.62 mmHg in PGS.Mean IOP was significantly reduced 1 d,1 wk,1 mo and 3 mo after laser treatment(P<0.05,respectively).Whereas,there were no significant differences between baseline and SLT treated groups at the 6th month both in OAG(P=0.347,P>0.05)and in PGS(P=0.309,P>0.05).Six months after SLT treatment,some patients received retreatment of SLT or were given more topical IOP-lowering medication to control the IOP.By the end of our study,the average IOP decreased to 20.73±1.82 mmHg in OAG and 20.49±1.53 mmHg in PGS groups.The number of glaucoma medications used was significantly reduced until the end of 3 years compared to baseline.CONCLUSION SLT could reduce IOP as adjunctive treatment both in OAG and PGS groups.SLT significantly reduced the number of glaucoma medications used 3-years following treatment in glaucoma patients.
文摘Objective: Adjunctive therapy is often used for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) following an inadequate response to an antidepressant. However, there is little information regarding its practice within primary care in the United Kingdom (UK). Objectives of the study were to examine incidence and predictors of adjunctive pharmacotherapy among patients with MDD treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by UK general practitioners (GPs). Methods: The General Practice Research Database was used to identify 15,274 MDD patients prescribed first-line treatment with SSRIs from 2006-2008 (latest patient follow-up towards end of 2010). Treatment trajectories were identified and classified as adjunctive therapy, combination therapy, drug switches, dose increases, and restart of therapy. Incidence and predictors of adjunctive therapy were assessed, and healthcare resource utilization was evaluated. Results: Overall incidence of adjunctive therapy was 3.07/100 person years (95% CI 2.90-3.25). Patients prescribed adjunctive therapy were more likely to be female (IRR 1.15, p = 0.03), of higher age (IRRs 1.51-2.60, p ≤ 0.001), and had a greater depression severity score (IRR 1.02, p = 0.003). Presence of irritable bowel syndrome (IRR 1.53, p = 0.001), and an increasing Charlson Comorbidity Index (IRR 1.15, p = 0.01) were associated with a higher incidence of adjunctive therapy. MDD-related general practitioner consultations among patients who received adjunctive therapy was lower compared with patients receiving other treatment interventions (IRRs 0.79 - 0.87, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Adjunctive therapy is infrequently utilized relative to other treatment options for management of MDD among patients who are inadequate responders to their SSRI treatments in UK primary care;however some groups are more likely to receive adjunctive therapy than others.
文摘Edivoxetine is a highly selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI) that has been investigated in short-term studies as adjunctive therapy to?selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who were partial responders to their SSRIs. This 52-week open-label study investigated the safety and tolerability of longer-term treatment with adjunctive edivoxetine in patients with MDD in Japan, who had completed one of two placebo-controlled acute studies of edivoxetine as adjunctive therapy to SSRIs. All patients continued on their stable dose of SSRI. Two hundred eighty-eight patients were enrolled and assessed for up to 1 year using standard safety and tolerability measures. Of these, 195 patients previously received only placebo in the parent study and, therefore, were first exposed to edivoxetine in this study. Approximately 46% of patients completed the study. The most frequently cited (>5%) reasons for discontinuation were sponsor decision (19.4%, which included patients discontinued due to early study termination), adverse event (17.4%) and subject decision (8.7%). Adverse events leading to discontinuation in more than 2 patients (>1%) were palpitations, vomiting, hepatic function abnormal, hypertension, nausea, and tachycardia. Treatment-emergent elevations in diastolic blood pressure and pulse were at least twice that reported in the literature for non-Asian patients. Twenty percent of patients had sustained elevations in pulse. Treatment-emergent changes in laboratory measures were small and not clinically meaningful. Assessment across all safety measures in this study indicated that the safety profile of edivoxetine was consistent with that expected for a selective NRI.
文摘<b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Background:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">During several years, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) played a significant role in the health of periodontal tissues.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The goals of prosthodontics management are to restore the missing teeth, provide the loss of teeth functions, and establish acceptable dental esthetics, and there are some evidence</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">reveal</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ing</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> the passive effects of snuff</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">on the results of prosthodontics and periodontal treatment</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> so the present study </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">is </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">performed to evaluate the outcomes of topical application of ascorbic acid solution as an adjunctive method of periodontal therapy among wet sniff users after prosthodontics therapy.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Methods:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The clinical situation was evaluated in 150 moderate periodontitis patients after conventional periodontal and prosthodontics therapy. They were selected from outpatient clinics, college of dentistry, King Khalid University, and from some hospitals Ministry of Health in Tabuk, Jazan and Aseer regions. The study was conducted from September 2020 to December 2020. The time of post-treatment assessment was one year. The study was included 50 patients </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">who </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">don</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">’</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">t use wet snuff as a group I (GI) (control group), 50 patients wet snuff users as group II (GII), and 50 patients wet snuff users were treated with topical application of ascorbic acid solution as group III (GIII). The participants were aged over 20 years, with a mean age of 35 years. The duration of using wet snuff was at least one year. Plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded at baseline (first visit), then after 4</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weeks</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(second visit) and after 6</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weeks</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(third visit) of conventional periodontal therapy and topical application of ascorbic acid solution. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA test and paired t-test. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Results: </span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">According to statistical analysis, there was the inclination of decrease in the mean and </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">standard deviation of plaque index (PLI) from 2.8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">1.4 to 2.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.51, and 2.</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">7</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.33 in group II, and decrease from 2.7</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.34 to 2.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.23 and 2.6</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.65 in group III. Similarly in the gingival index (GI)</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> there was a decrease in the mean and standard deviation from 2.8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.52 to 2.3</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.62 and 2.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.51 in group II and a decrease from 2.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.8 to 2.3</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.58 and 2.4</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.47 in group III. Moreover, there was a decrease in the mean and standard deviation of clinical attachment loss (CAL) from 4.5</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.26 to 3.9</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.83 and 4.2</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.83 in group II and from 4.2</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.31 to 3.8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.46 and 3.8</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">±</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">0.31 in group III;less than group I without significance differences (p > 0. 05) in all study groups at baseline and after 4</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weeks, and 6</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">weeks of follow up except CAL. </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> The results of our study displayed that periodontal parameters vary among wet snuff users after topical application of ascorbic acid solution as an adjunctive method of periodontal therapy</span>
文摘BACKGROUND Refractory septic shock is a critical and multifaceted condition that continues to pose significant challenges in critical care.AIM To systematically review randomized trials on emerging interventions for refractory septic shock,assessing mortality,vasopressor use,intensive care unit(ICU)length of stay,and organ dysfunction.METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed,EMBASE,Cochrane CENTRAL Library,and Web of Science for studies published between 2000 and 2024.Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials(RCT)evaluating innovative therapies for refractory septic shock.Variables of interest:The primary outcome was allcause mortality among patients treated with novel interventions.Secondary outcomes included length of stay in the ICU,total hospital length of stay,and use of vasoactive drugs.Methodological rigor was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.RESULTS From 850 records,24 RCTs met the inclusion criteria,evaluating therapies such as methylene blue,vasopressin,terlipressin,and combinations of hydrocortisone,vitamin C,and thiamine.Mortality rates ranged from 28.6%to 56.8%.Methylene blue reduced vasopressor dependency in patients requiring high norepinephrine doses by 1.0 vasopressor-free day,and terlipressin improved renal perfusion by 13.1%.Combination therapies enhanced secondary outcomes,including reductions in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score.However,no single intervention consistently demonstrated significant survival benefits.CONCLUSION Adjunctive therapies for refractory septic shock may improve hemodynamics and organ function,however,they have not been shown to consistently reduce mortality.Larger trials are needed to confirm these findings.Multimodal approaches targeting inflammation are critical.
文摘Microbial infection is a principal etiological factor in pulp and periapical diseases,necessitating effective root canal therapy(RCT)for thorough decontamination of the root canal system.However,conventional mechanical and chemical preparation methods remain inadequate,often leaving significant portions of the canal uncleaned and contributing to persistent infection.The advent of erbium laser-assisted chemical preparation has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing root canal disinfection through advanced fluid dynamics mechanisms,particularly cavitation and photoacoustic streaming.This review explores the fundamental principles governing fluid dynamics in erbium laser-assisted irrigation,with a focus on primary and secondary cavitation effects.The interaction between erbium laser energy and water generates vapor bubbles that induce dynamic fluid movement,enhancing the penetration and distribution of irrigants deep within the root canal system.Key factors influencing fluid dynamics intensity,including laser parameters,working tip design,and water medium confinement,are critically analyzed.Furthermore,recent advancements such as Photon-Initiated Photoacoustic Streaming(PIPS),Photoacoustic Synchronized Transients(PHAST),and Shock Wave Enhanced Emission Photoacoustic Streaming(SWEEPS)are reviewed in the context of their ability to improve fluid motion and irrigation efficacy.While these laser-assisted techniques offer promising improvements over traditional methods,challenges remain in optimizing energy parameters and mitigating the constraints imposed by confined root canal environments.Future research should focus on refining fluid dynamics models and conducting clinical studies to validate the efficacy of these innovations.This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current developments in fluid dynamics research related to erbium laser-assisted chemical preparation,offering insights into its potential as an advanced modality for root canal disinfection.
文摘BACKGROUND Perinatal depression affects 10%-20%of pregnant women and subsequently influences maternal health and fetal development.Concerns over the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy have prompted the exploration of nutritional interventions as adjunct therapies.This study evaluated the impact of combining preconception and prenatal supplementation with myo-inositol,probiotics,and trace elements on mood,quality of life,and fetal development in depressed mothers.This retrospective cohort study included 314 pregnant women who were diag-nosed with mild to moderate depression,as determined by a Zung self-rating depression scale score of less than 69.The participants were divided into an intervention group(n=161)receiving myo-inositol,probiotics,and trace elements and a control group(n=153)without supplementation.Supplementation comm-enced 3 months before conception and continued through pregnancy.Psychiatric symptoms and quality of life were evaluated using the positive and negative affect schedule-now,state-trait anxiety inventory,Patient Health Ques-tionnaire-8,and World Health Organization Quality of life Assessment:Brief Version scales preconception and postpartum.Fetal development metrics were assessed via ultrasound,and neonatal outcomes were recorded.RESULTS The intervention group presented significant reductions in gestational diabetes mellitus(13.04%vs 23.53%,P=0.016)and gestational hypertension(3.73%vs 9.15%,P=0.049).Higher levels of inositol,iron,zinc,and probiotics were observed near term in the intervention group.Postpartum mood assessments indicated lower anxiety and depression scores for the intervention group,with significant improvements in the positive and negative affect schedule-now(P=0.002),trait anxiety(P=0.002),and Patient Health Questionnaire-8(P=0.018)scores.The World Health Organization Quality of life Assessment:Brief Version scores improved in the psychological(P=0.041)and environmental(P=0.009)domains postpartum.Fetal biparietal diameter and femoral length were greater in the intervention group alongside better neonatal body length and reduced neonatal unit admissions(2.48%vs 7.84%,P=0.031).CONCLUSION Combined supplementation with myo-inositol,probiotics,and trace elements from preconception through pregnancy may reduce pregnancy-related complications,enhance mood and quality of life,and improve fetal growth metrics.
文摘BACKGROUND Demineralized bone matrix(DBM)is a commonly utilized allogenic bone graft substitute to promote osseous union.However,little is known regarding outcomes following DBM utilization in foot and ankle surgical procedures.AIM To evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes following DBM as a biological adjunct in foot and ankle surgical procedures.METHODS During May 2023,the PubMed,EMBASE and Cochrane library databases were systematically reviewed to identify clinical studies examining outcomes following DBM for the management of various foot and ankle pathologies.Data regarding study characteristics,patient demographics,subjective clinical outcomes,radiological outcomes,complications,and failure rates were extracted and analyzed.In addition,the level of evidence(LOE)and quality of evidence(QOE)for each individual study was also assessed.Thirteen studies were included in this review.RESULTS In total,363 patients(397 ankles and feet)received DBM as part of their surgical procedure at a weighted mean follow-up time of 20.8±9.2 months.The most common procedure performed was ankle arthrodesis in 94 patients(25.9%).Other procedures performed included hindfoot fusion,1st metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis,5th metatarsal intramedullary screw fixation,hallux valgus correction,osteochondral lesion of the talus repair and unicameral talar cyst resection.The osseous union rate in the ankle and hindfoot arthrodesis cohort,base of the 5th metatarsal cohort,and calcaneal fracture cohort was 85.6%,100%,and 100%,respectively.The weighted mean visual analog scale in the osteochondral lesions of the talus cohort improved from a pre-operative score of 7.6±0.1 to a post-operative score of 0.4±0.1.The overall complication rate was 27.2%,the most common of which was non-union(8.8%).There were 43 failures(10.8%)all of which warranted a further surgical procedure.CONCLUSION This current systematic review demonstrated that the utilization of DBM in foot and ankle surgical procedures led to satisfactory osseous union rates with favorable wound complication rates.Excellent outcomes were observed in patients undergoing fracture fixation augmented with DBM,with mixed evidence supporting the routine use of DBM in fusion procedures of the ankle and hindfoot.However,the low LOE together with the low QOE and significant heterogeneity between the included studies reinforces the need for randomized control trials to be conducted to identify the optimal role of DBM in the setting of foot and ankle surgical procedures.
基金Supported by Framework of one research project of the Spanish Society of Cardiology for Clinical Research in Cardiology 2012
文摘In patients with an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, timely myocardial reperfusion using primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective therapy for limiting myocardial infarct size, preserving left-ventricular systolic function and reducing the onset of heart failure. Within minutes after the restoration of blood flow, however, reperfusion itself results in additional damage, also known as myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. An improved understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying reperfusion injury has resulted in the identification ofseveral promising pharmacological(cyclosporin-A, exenatide, glucose-insulin-potassium, atrial natriuretic peptide, adenosine, abciximab, erythropoietin, metoprolol and melatonin) therapeutic strategies for reducing the severity of myocardial reperfusion injury. Many of these agents have shown promise in initial proofof-principle clinical studies. In this article, we review the pathophysiology underlying myocardial reperfusion injury and highlight the potential pharmacological interventions which could be used in the future to prevent reperfusion injury and improve clinical outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease.
基金Supported by Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Education,No.200908690Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Health,No.2012KYA090
文摘AIM： To identify the proportion, causes and the nature of drug-induced liver injury （DILI） in patients with no- tably elevated alanine aminotransferase （ALT）. METHODS： All the inpatients with ALT levels above 10 times upper limit of normal range （ULN） were ret- rospectively identified from a computerized clinical laboratory database at our hospital covering a 12-mo period. Relevant clinical information was obtained from medical records. Alternative causes of ALT eleva- tions were examined for each patient, including bili- ary abnormality, viral hepatitis, hemodynamic injury, malignancy, DILI or undetermined and other causes. All suspected DILI cases were causality assessed usingthe Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences scale, and only the cases classified as highly probable, probable, or possible were diagnosed as DILI. Comments related to the diagnosis of DILI in the medical record and in the discharge letter for each case were also examined to evaluate DILI detection by the treating doctors. RESULTS： A total of 129 cases with ALT 〉 i0 ULN were identified. Hemodynamic injury （n = 46, 35.7%）, DILl （n = 25, 19.4%） and malignancy （n = 21, 16.3%） were the top three causes of liver injury. Peak ALT val- ues were lower in DILI patients than in patients with hemodynamic injury （14.5 5.6 ULN vs 32.5 ：I： 30.7 ULN, P = 0.001）. Among DILI patients, one （4%） case was classified as definite, 19 （76%） cases were clas- sified as probable and 5 （20%） as possible according to the ClOMS scale. A hepatocellular pattern was ob- served in 23 （92%） cases and mixed in 2 （8%）. The extent of severity of liver injury was mild in 21 （84%） patients and moderate in 4 （16%）. Before discharge, 10 （40%） patients were recovered and the other 15 （60%） were improved. The improved patients tended to have a higher peak ALT （808 ＋ 348 U/L vs 623 ＋ 118 U/L, P = 0.016） and shorter treatment duration before discharge （8 ＋ 6 d vs 28 ~ 12 d, P = 0.008） compared with the recovered patients. Twenty-two drugs and 6 herbs were found associated with DILl. Antibacterials were the most common agents causing DILI in 8 （32%） cases, followed by glucocorticoids in 6 （24%） cases. Twenty-four （96%） cases received treatment of DILl with at least one adjunctive drug. Agents for treatment of DILI included anti-inflammatory drugs （e.g., glycyr- rhizinate）, antioxidants （e.g., glutathione, ademetionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate and tiopronin）, polyene phospha- tidyl choline and herbal extracts （e.g., protoporphyrin disodium and silymarin）. Diagnosis of DILl was not mentioned in the discharge letter in 60% of the cases. Relative to prevalent cases and cases from wards of internal medicine, incident cases and cases from surgi- cal wards had a higher risk of missed diagnosis in dis- charge letter [odds ratio （OR） 32.7, 95%CI （2.8-374.1）,CONCLUSION： DILI is mostly caused by use of anti- bacterials and glucocorticoids, and constitutes about one fifth of hospitalized patients with ALT 〉 10 ULN. DILI is underdiagnosed frequently.
文摘Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a rare primary liver cancer with a global increasing trend in recent years. Symptoms tend to be vague and insidious in development, often are diagnosed at an advanced stage when only palliative approaches can be used with a median survival rate of months. Comparing with HCC, ICC tends to spread to lymph nodes early, and is rarely limited to the regional lymph nodes, with a frequent postoperative recurrence. Surgery is the only choice of curative therapy for ICC, but recently no consensus has been established for operation. Thus, more data from multiple centers and more cases are needed. Generally speaking, current adjunctive therapy cannot clearly improve survival. Further research is needed to find more effective radio- and chemotherapeutic regimens.
文摘Maxillofacial space infection (MSI) is one of the most common conditions encountered in oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics. Early recognition and proper management of MSI could prevent a life-threatening event. Objectives: To report a series of MSI managed with antibiotics, surgical intervention and exogenous steroids as an adjunct, highlighting functional improvement following steroid administration. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out from December 2013 to September 2016, involving 30 patients (n = 30, 22 males, 8 females) diagnosed with MSI. All patients were initially managed with intravenous empirical antibiotics, analgesics and removal of potential source of infection. A course of 3 doses of IV Dexamethasone 8 mg at an interval of 8 hours was started during the first day of hospital admission. Results: This series reports 30 patients presenting with MSI, who received prompt antibiotics and 3 doses of steroids as inpatients. Significant clinical improvement was noted in the form of amelioration of pain, rapid reduction in edema, and improved trismus, shortening hospital stay to an average of 3.5 days, and omission of surgical intervention in 50% of our cases. No adverse effects or drug reaction was noted. Conclusion: In conclusion, the value of synergistic use of corticosteroids with antibiotics in management of MSI is significant. Despite these promising findings, there is scarce evidence in the literature to fully support the use of corticosteroids in abscess management. The role of corticosteroids in treatment of MSI should be explored further.
