scholarly journals The Effects of Aromatherapy on Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Somayeh Es-haghee ◽  
Fatemeh Shabani ◽  
Jessie Hawkins ◽  
Mohammad Ali Zareian ◽  
Fatemeh Nejatbakhsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Premenstrual Syndrome ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Weighted Mean Difference ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Childbearing Age

ObjectivesPremenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disturbance among women of childbearing age. Aromatherapy is a commonly used form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to treat PMS. The purpose of this study is to quantify and summarize the effects of aromatherapy on premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Methods. PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched through relevant search terms until October 2020. The effect sizes were pooled as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random effect model. Egger tests and visual inspection of the funnel plot were performed to identify the existence of publication bias. The I-squared (I2) test was applied to measure heterogeneity. Results. Eight studies (n = 8) were included in this analysis. The quantitative synthesis of evidence found that aromatherapy decreases PMS scores (WMD –13.83; 95% CI (−22.04, −5.63), I2 = 94.5%), total psychological symptoms of PMS (WMD –3.51; 95% CI (−4.84, −2.18), I2 = 82.6%), anxiety of PMS (WMD–1.78; 95% CI (−3.17, −0.38), I2 = 94.2%), depression of PMS (WMD–2.0; 95% CI (−3.65, −0.34), I2 = 93.7%), and fatigue of PMS (WMD – 1.44; 95% CI (−2.44, −0.44), I2 = 89.7%) compared to the control group. Conclusion. Aromatherapy is an effective tool for the relief of PMS symptoms. Additional randomized controlled clinical trials with different durations and essential oils should be conducted to confirm our findings.

Curcumin Preparations Can Improve Flow-Mediated Dilation and Endothelial Function: A Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 272-281
Author(s):  
Khalid Hamid Changal ◽  
Muhammad Shayan Khan ◽  
Rehana Bashir ◽  
Mujeeb Abdul Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Endothelial Function ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Flow Mediated Dilation ◽  
Standard Difference

Introduction: Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of atherosclerosis. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), measured by ultrasonography, is used to noninvasively assess endothelial dysfunction. Preparations of curcumin, a naturally occurring pigment found in turmeric, may improve FMD and thus endothelial dysfunction. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the effect of curcumin preparations on endothelial dysfunction. Methods: Five randomized clinical trials met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. The primary outcome was an improvement in FMD, as measured at brachial artery, after supplementations with curcumin preparations compared to the control group. Standardized mean difference and Hedges’ g were used for effect size (ES) measurement. An ES of 0.2–0.5 is considered small, 0.5–0.8 is medium, and more than 0.8 is large. Publication bias was studied too. Results: We found supplementation with curcumin preparations had an overall ES (standard difference in means) of 1.379 (95% CI 0.485–2.274, p = 0.003) on FMD. The overall Hedges’ g was 1.353 (95% CI 0.47–2.235, p = 0.03). This analysis suggests a positive and large ES of curcumin preparations on FMD using a random effect model. Smokers had a smaller increase in FMD compared to nonsmokers (ES 0.379 vs. 1.639, p = 0.034). Conclusion: This meta-analysis of 5 randomized clinical trials indicates a significant effect of curcumin preparations to increase the FMD compared to placebo and thus endothelial function. This effect is not strongly noticed in smokers.

Novel oral anticoagulats for the treatment of left ventricle thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Serenelli ◽  
F Vitali ◽  
R Pavasini ◽  
E Tonet ◽  
G Pompei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Thrombus ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Ventricular Thrombus

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are not guideline-recommanded treatment for left ventricular thrombus.  Purpose: the aim of this meta-analysis is to compare NOACs versus vitamin-K atagonsits (VKAs) efficacy in treating left ventricular thrombus (LVT). Methods: we systematically searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Biomed Central, and Web of Science for trials comparing NOACs versus VKAs in the setting of LVT. Five studies, out of the 74 initially selected after first screening, were included in the meta-analysis. For the development of this meta-analysis, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The shortlisted studies were retrieved as full articles and appraised independently by two unblinded reviewers. The Mantel-Haensel method with a random effect model was used for the pooled analysis. The primary outcome was the occurrence of stroke and systemic embolism. Secondary outcome was occurrence of left ventricular thrombosis resolution during treatment.  Results: 707 patients were included in the analysis for the primary outcome. Of these, 230 were treated with NOACs and 477 with VKAs. The pooled OR for the primary outcome was 0.71 (95% CI 0.18-2.86, I2 67%), thus showing similar effect in term of ischaemic protection. A total of 698 patients, 228 on NOACs and 470 on VKAs were included in the analysis of the secondary outcome. The pooled OR for the secondary outcome pooled OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.56-1.68, I2 46%. Conclusions and Relevance: NOACs seem to have a similar efficacy profile compare to VKAs and so they should be considered as an alternative treatment for left ventricular thrombosis. Large prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm this exploratory finding. Abstract Figure 1

scholarly journals Clinical and Molecular Characteristics Associated with Survival in Advanced Melanoma Treated with Checkpoint Inhibitors

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Badami ◽  
Sunil Upadhaya ◽  
Ravi Kanth Velagapudi ◽  
Pushyami Mikkilineni ◽  
Ranju Kunwor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ◽  
Advanced Melanoma ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Molecular Characteristics ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity

Background. We performed meta-analysis to gather more evidence regarding clinical-molecular subgroups associated with better overall survival (OS) in advanced melanoma treated with checkpoint inhibitors. Materials and Methods. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and clinical trial.gov. Randomized clinical trials that compared a checkpoint inhibitor (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) with investigator choice chemotherapy or ipilimumab were included in our study. Hazard ratios (HR) and confidence interval (CI) were calculated for progression-free survival (PFS) and OS for each subgroup using generic inverse model along with the random effect method. Results. A total of 6 clinical trials were eligible for the meta-analysis. OS was prolonged in wild BRAF subgroup (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.49-0.85, p 0.002), Programmed cell death subgroup (PD-1+) (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.41-0.80, p 0.001), and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level subgroup (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.38-0.95, p 0.03). Similarly, we found increased OS in eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) 1, males and age >65 years subgroups. Conclusions. Checkpoint inhibitors significantly increased OS in patients with wild BRAF, positive PD-1, and high LDH. However, results should be interpreted keeping in mind associated significant heterogeneity. The results of this study should help in designing future clinical trials.

Reno-vascular toxicities associated with carfilzomib: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e21622-e21622
Author(s):  
Chintan Shah ◽  
Harini Bejjanki ◽  
Rohit Bishnoi ◽  
Ankur Jain ◽  
Subhankar Samal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Dose Effect ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Phase Iii Clinical Trials

e21622 Background: Carfilzomib (Carf) is a novel proteasome inhibitor that is approved for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (RMM) who have failed ≥ 1 prior lines of therapy. The incidence and seriousness of Carf associated reno-vascular toxicities (RVT) is not well known. We performed systematic review of Carf literature with meta-analysis to determine its incidence and overall risk. Methods: Initial search of literature led to a total of 175 Carf related articles. However, we used a total of 29 publications; phase I/II, phase II and phase III clinical trials (n = 3) which used Carf as monotherapy or in combination. We excluded phase I studies. Incidence rates and odds ratios (OR) were calculated with either fixed effect or random effect model based on the heterogeneity of included studies. Toxicity such as hypertension (HTN), renal failure (RF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) were reported according to CTCAE v4.0. Results: A total of 4560 patients with various hematological and solid malignancies were included. Incidences of toxicities were: 15.9% and 4.7 % for HTN, 11.2% and 3.44% for RF, 6.47% and 2.22% for VTE, respectively for all grades and high grades in each category. When compared to control group taken from phase III clinical trials, the risk of HTN and RF due to Carf was significantly higher [OR = 2.91 and 3.32 in HTN (P < 0.001)], [OR = 1.71 and 1.79 (P < 0.05) for RF], respectively for all grade and high grade in each category. Moreover, incidence of HTN with higher than standard dose of carf (27 mg/m2 twice weekly) was significantly higher (P < 0.001). RF and VTE did not have the dose effect. Concomitant use of immunomodulator (IMiD) significantly increased, as expected, the incidence of VTE (P < 0.001). There was no variation in the incidence of RVT among newly diagnosed versus RMM (P = 0.4). Conclusions: Overall incidence and risk of hypertension and renal toxicities seems to be high when using Carf. Higher doses of Carf seem to lead to higher incidence of HTN, while the risk of VTE is higher with concomitant IMiD use. The pathophysiology for these complications is poorly understood, however it could be secondary to endothelial effect of carf. Physician should be vigilant about these effects as it can lead to poor overall outcomes.

scholarly journals The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on lipid concentrations inpatients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-255
Author(s):  
Omid Asbaghi ◽  
Sara Kashkooli ◽  
Mohammad Reza Amini ◽  
Hossein Shahinfar ◽  
Kurosh Djafarian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Lipid Profile ◽  
Baseline Level ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Carnitine Supplementation

This meta-analysis was performed to assess the effect of L-carnitine supplementation on lipid profile. A systematic search were conducted in PubMed and Scopus to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) which evaluated the effects of L-carnitine on lipid profile. Pooled effect sizes were measured using random-effect model (Dersimonian-Laird). Meta-analysis showed that L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -8.17 mg/dL; 95% CI,-14.68 to -1.65, I2=52.2%, P = 0.041). Baseline level of TC was a source of heterogeneity, with a greater effect in studies with a baseline level of more than 200 mg/d (WMD: -11.93 mg/dL; 95% CI, -20.80 to-3.05). L-carnitine also significantly decreased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD:-5.22 mg/dL; 95% CI, -9.54 to -0.91, I2=66.7%, P = 0.010), and LDL-C level <100 mg/dL), trial duration,and L-carnitine dosage were potential sources of heterogeneity. L-carnitine supplementation appeared to have no significant effect on high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD: -0.51 mg/dL;95% CI, -2.45 to 1.44) and triglyceride (TG) (WMD: 2.80 mg/dL; 95% CI, -8.09 to 13.69). This meta-analysisrevealed that L-carnitine may have favorable effects on lipid profile, especially LDL-C and TC. However, further RCTs are needed to confirm the veracity of these results, particularly among hyperlipidemic patients.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Clinical Trials Safety Profile of PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors Among Patients With Cancer: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Tian ◽  
Alan Huang ◽  
Yue Yang ◽  
Qi Dang ◽  
Qing Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Safety Profile ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Newcastle Ottawa Scale

BackgroundUnderstanding the safety and adverse event profiles of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors is important in guiding cancer immunotherapy. Consequently, we designed this meta-analysis to evaluate the safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in clinical trials involving cancer patients.MethodsFour safety indicators comprising treatment-related adverse events, death, discontinuation of therapy and grades 3–5 adverse events were evaluated using the random effect model. The quality of enrolled trials was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS).ResultsForty-four clinical trials were included in the final meta-analysis. Compared with chemotherapy, the risk of death due to the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors was much lower than that experienced in the control group (OR = 0.65, 95%CI: [0.47, 0.91], I2 = 0%, Z = 2.52 (P = 0.01)). Similar observations were apparent regarding the other three indicators of safety and also when the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone is compared with the combined use of PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4. When used together with chemotherapy, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors increased the incidence of the adverse events as compared to the use of chemotherapy alone. Increased risks for adverse events were also noticed with the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors over the use of a placebo.ConclusionThe use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone is associated with a better safety profile compared to either the use of chemotherapy or the use of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with other anticancer regimens.

Effect of Mediterranean diet on liver enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Abbas Ali Sangouni ◽  
Shirin Hassani Zadeh ◽  
Hassan Mozaffari-Khosravi ◽  
Mahdieh Hosseinzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Liver Enzymes ◽  
Weighted Mean Difference ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract Elevated levels of liver enzymes are the main markers of liver dysfunction. Liver enzymes are the important indicators of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population. Previous randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigated the effects of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) as a plant-based diet on features of NAFLD like liver enzymes, but their results are contradictory. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze RCTs investigating the effect of MedDiet on liver enzymes. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched until December 2020. A total of 10 RCTs (n=705 participants) evaluating the effect of MedDiet on liver enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were included. A random-effect model was used to estimates the pooled effect size. To evaluate the heterogeneity among the included studies, the Cochran’s Q-test and I-squared test were used. The MedDiet significantly reduced AST (weighted mean difference (WMD)= −0.38 IU/L; 95 % CI −0.73, −0.03 IU/L; P=0.03) and GGT (WMD= −0.16 IU/L; 95 % CI −0.32, −0.006 IU/L; P=0.04), but had no significant effect on ALT (WMD = −0.55 IU/L; 95 % CI −1.25, 0.13 IU/L; P=0.11). However, sensitivity analysis revealed that the overall effects of MedDiet on AST, GGT and ALT were significantly influenced by removing some studies. There was no publication bias based on Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Generally, MedDiet can improve liver enzymes. To better conclusion, further RCTs investigating the effect of MedDiet on liver enzymes, especially in patients with NAFLD are still required.

scholarly journals The efficacy and safety of bamlanivimab treatment against COVID-19: A meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huairong Xiang ◽  
Bei He ◽  
Yun Li ◽  
Xuan Cheng ◽  
Qizhi Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Positive Treatment ◽  
The Cochrane Library

Background: Bamlanivimab is routinely used in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in worldwide. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy and safety of bamlanivimab treatment in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We searched articles from Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and MedRxiv between 30 January 2020 and August 5, 2021. We selected randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies with a control group to assess the efficiency of bamlanivimab in treating patients with COVID-19. Results: Our meta-analysis retrieved 3 RCTs and 7 cohort studies including 14461 patients. Bmlanivimab may help outpatients to prevent hospitalization or emergency department visit (RR 0.41 95%CI 0.29 to 0.58), reduce ICU admission (RR 0.47 95%CI 0.23 to 0.92) and mortality (RR 0.32 95%CI 0.13 to 0.77) from the disease. The combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab may had a greater potential for positive treatment outcome. Conclusion: Bamlanivimab has demonstrated clinical efficacy on mild or moderate ill patients with COVID-19 to prevent hospitalization, reduce severity and mortality from the disease. Combinations of two or more monoclonal antibody increase the effect. Well-designed clinical trials to identify the clinical and biochemical characteristics in COVID-19 patients'population that could benefit from bamlanivimab are warranted in the future.

scholarly journals A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Panax Ginseng on Menopausal Women’s Sexual Function

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Ghorbani ◽  
Mojgan Mirghafourvand
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dysfunction ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Sexual Function ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Placebo Control ◽  
Significant Difference

Objectives: An increase in life expectancy results in the aging population growth. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of ginseng that could be used as a herbal medicine in women with sexual dysfunction. Materials and Methods: The authors of this study searched Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, Google Scholar, and Persian databases without a time limitation until May 2018 and examined all the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared the effect of different types of ginseng on sexual function of menopausal women as compared to the placebo controls. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. The heterogeneity was determined using the I2 index. In addition, standardized mean difference (SMD) was used instead of mean differences (MD) and a random effect was reported instead of fixed effect in meta-analysis. Results: The eligibility criteria were found in five RCTs. All the included studies were placebo-controlled. Two trials had a parallel design while three studies used a crossover design. Although four trials indicated that ginseng significantly improved sexual function, they didn’t report any treatment effect compared to the placebo group. Based on the results of meta-analysis obtained from five studies including 531 women, there was no statistically significant effect of ginseng on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) compared to the placebo control group (SMD: 0.26; 95% CI: -0.26 to 0.76). Nonetheless, there was a considerable heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 81%; P < 0.0001). Moreover, all the included studies assessed adverse events, but in three of the RCTs, there was no significant difference between the placebo and ginseng groups. Conclusions: The evidence regarding ginseng as a therapeutic agent for sexual dysfunction is unjustifiable. Rigorous studies seem warranted in this respect.

scholarly journals The Risk of Immune-Related Thyroid Dysfunction Induced by PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors in Cancer Patients: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Tian ◽  
Ran Li ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Meng Li ◽  
Yuxiao Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Manual Search ◽  
Incidence Risk ◽  
Newcastle Ottawa Scale

BackgroundThyroid dysfunction is common for cancer patients receiving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapies. To clarify the incidence risk of thyroid dysfunction would be important for guiding anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. Therefore, the updated meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the incidence risk of thyroid dysfunction caused by PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.MethodsPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor related clinical trials were collected by a systematic search of the PubMed. Some relevant studies were identified by a manual search. The incidence risk of all grades and grades 3-5 was analyzed and evaluated by random effect model. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used for the quality assessment of all clinical trials.ResultsForty-three clinical trials were collected. Compared with chemotherapy, the risk of hypothyroidism of all grades was significantly higher (OR=7.15, 95%CI:[4.85, 10.55], I2 = 40%, Z=9.91(P &lt;0.00001)) in PD-1/PD-L1 group. Similar results could also be noted, when the control group was placebo or CTLA-4. When PD-1/PD-L1 was combined with other treatments for cancer patients, the risk of hypothyroidism of all grades was also significantly increased. Similar to the analysis results of hypothyroidism, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors played the same role in increasing the risk of hyperthyroidism and thyroiditis. Few significant analysis results was noted, when the risk of thyroid dysfunction of grades 3-5 was assessed.ConclusionWhether used alone or in combination with other anti-tumor drugs, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors increased the risk of thyroid dysfunction, especially for hypothyroidism. Furthermore, PD-1/PD-L1 was better than chemotherapy and CTLA-4 in increasing the risk of thyroid dysfunction.

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