scholarly journals Herbal Therapy in Pregnancy-What to Expect when you Expect?

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1701201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur L. Belica ◽  
Nenad B. Ćetković ◽  
Nataša B. Milić ◽  
Nataša P. Milošević
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Fetal Development ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Herbal Therapy ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Professional Advice ◽  
Conventional Medication ◽  
In Pregnancy

The use of herbal therapy in pregnancy is common for pregnancy related nausea, vomiting, gestational diabetes, anxiety, insomnia, and preparation for labor, as well as for treating infections. Many conventional drugs may interfere with fetal development and herbal products are considered to be safe. However, herbal therapy requires competent healthcare professional advice before prescribing. Knowledge about the possible adverse effects of active compounds of the herbs on pregnancy outcome is limited. Interference of herbal ingredients with conventional medication or the ailment should also not be excluded. For many herbal products, the pharmacological effect is not clinically proven, and the safe usage in pregnancy is not guaranteed. Here, based on published clinical trials, an overview is given of the efficacy and safety for fetal development and pregnancy outcome of the most frequently used herbs: ginger, cranberry, echinacea, mint, chamomile, valerian, flaxseed, tea and raspberry leaf.

scholarly journals Herbal Medicines—Are They Effective and Safe during Pregnancy?

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Beata Sarecka-Hujar ◽  
Beata Szulc-Musioł
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Echinacea Purpurea ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Morning Sickness ◽  
Active Substances ◽  
In Pregnancy

Since the teratogenicity of Thalidomide has been proven, herbal products are more commonly used in pregnancy to not only relieve morning sickness but also to fight infections. These products are frequently considered as natural and therefore harmless. However, herbs contain a number of active substances that, when used during pregnancy, can affect the development of the fetus. Often, pregnant women do not consult the usage of herbal medicines with a physician. The access to these products is easy and treatment of certain ailments with the use of herbs is common in many countries. The aim of the present literature review was to discuss available data regarding the efficacy and safety of cranberry, chamomile, Echinacea purpurea, garlic, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, and peppermint, which are used to counteract the most common ailments during pregnancy, i.e., infections and pregnancy-related ailments (e.g., nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and headache). Analysis of available data showed that ginger is one of the most extensively analyzed herbal remedies. The dose of ginger below 1000 mg per day may help to relief hypereremesis gravidarum, and such an amount of ginger did not increase frequency of adverse effects for either woman or developing fetus. Data regarding other herbs are most often heterogeneous and give conflicting results with no clear conclusions. However, all herbal products should be used with a special caution in pregnancy. Further high-quality human studies should be determined to confirm the safe doses of herbal products which could be used by pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Crizotinib Versus Chemotherapy on ALK-positive NSCLC: A Systematic Review of Efficacy and Safety

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingxia Wang ◽  
Guanqi Wang ◽  
Haiyan Ma ◽  
Baoen Shan
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Objective Response Rate ◽  
Retrospective Studies ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Objective Response ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Alk Positive

Introduction: Crizotinib was approved to treat anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)- positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011.We conducted a systematic review of clinical trials and retrospective studies to compare the efficacy and safety of crizotinib with chemotherapy. </P><P> Methods: We searched electronic databases from inception to Dec. 2016. Clinical trials and retrospective studies regarding crizotinib and crizotinib versus chemotherapy in treatment of NSCLC were eligible. The primary outcomes were the objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Results: Nine studies (five clinical trials and four retrospective studies) including 729 patients met the inclusion criteria. Crizotinib treatment revealed 1-year OS of 77.1% and PFS of 9.17 months. And crizotinib had a better performance than chemotherapy in ORR (OR: 4.97, 95%CI: 3.16 to 7.83, P<0.00001, I2=35%). DCR revealed superiority with crizotinib than chemotherapy (OR: 3.42, 95% CI: 2.33 to 5.01, P<0.00001, I2=0%). PR (partial response) were significant superior to that of chemotherapy through direct systematic review. No statistically significant difference in CR (complete response) was found between crizotinib-treated group and chemotherapy-treated group. Regarding SD (stable disease), chemotherapy-treated group had a better performance than crizotinib-treated group. Common adverse events associated with crizotinib were visual disorder, gastrointestinal side effects, and elevated liver aminotransferase levels, whereas common adverse events with chemotherapy were fatigue, nausea, and hematologic toxicity. This systematic review revealed improved objective response rate and increased disease control rate in crizotinib group comparing with chemotherapy group. Crizotinib treatment would be a favorable treatment option for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. ALK inhibitors may have future potential applications in other cancers driven by ALK or c-MET gene mutations.

scholarly journals The Effects of Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Natural Compounds on Homocysteine

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3081
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amin Atazadegan ◽  
Mohammad Bagherniya ◽  
Gholamreza Askari ◽  
Aida Tasbandi ◽  
Amirhossein Sahebkar
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Vascular Endothelium ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Serum Homocysteine ◽  
Prevention And Treatment

Background: Among non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in global communities. By 2030, CVD-related deaths are projected to reach a global rise of 25 million. Obesity, smoking, alcohol, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hyperhomocysteinemia are several known risk factors for CVDs. Elevated homocysteine is tightly related to CVDs through multiple mechanisms, including inflammation of the vascular endothelium. The strategies for appropriate management of CVDs are constantly evolving; medicinal plants have received remarkable attention in recent researches, since these natural products have promising effects on the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases. The effects of nutraceuticals and herbal products on CVD/dyslipidemia have been previously studied. However, to our knowledge, the association between herbal bioactive compounds and homocysteine has not been reviewed in details. Thus, the main objective of this study is to review the efficacy of bioactive natural compounds on homocysteine levels according to clinical trials and animal studies. Results: Based on animal studies, black and green tea, cinnamon, resveratrol, curcumin, garlic extract, ginger, and soy significantly reduced the homocysteine levels. According to the clinical trials, curcumin and resveratrol showed favorable effects on serum homocysteine. In conclusion, this review highlighted the beneficial effects of medicinal plants as natural, inexpensive, and accessible agents on homocysteine levels based on animal studies. Nevertheless, the results of the clinical trials were not uniform, suggesting that more well-designed trials are warranted.

scholarly journals Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous rtPA in Ischemic Strokes Due to Small-Vessel Occlusion: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz Karaszewski ◽  
Adam Wyszomirski ◽  
Bartosz Jabłoński ◽  
David J. Werring ◽  
Dominika Tomaka
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Small Vessel Disease ◽  
Small Vessel ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Excellent Outcome ◽  
Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage

AbstractIntravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (iv-rtPA) has been routinely used to treat ischemic stroke for 25 years, following large clinical trials. However, there are few prospective studies on the efficacy and safety of this therapy in strokes attributed to cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). We evaluated functional outcome (modified Rankin scale, mRS) and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) using all available data on the effects of iv-rtPA in SVD-related ischemic stroke (defined either using neuroimaging, clinical features, or both). Using fixed-effect and random-effects models, we calculated the pooled effect estimates with regard to excellent and favorable outcomes (mRS=0–1 and 0–2 respectively, at 3 months), and the rate of sICH. Twenty-three studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria, 11 of which were comparative, and there were only 3 randomized clinical trials. In adjusted analyses, there was an increased odds of excellent outcome (adjusted OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.29–1.82, I2: 0%) or favorable outcome (adjusted OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.31–2.15,I2: 0%) in patients who received iv-rtPA compared with placebo. Across the six studies which reported it, the incidence of sICH was higher in the treatment group (M-H RR = 8.83, 95% CI: 2.76–28.27). The pooled rate of sICH in patients with SVD administered iv-rtPA was only 0.72% (95% CI: 0.12%–1.64%). We conclude that when ischemic stroke attributed to SVD is considered separately, available data on the effects of iv-rtPA therapy are insufficient for the highest level of recommendation, but it seems to be safe. Although further therapeutic trials in SVD-related ischemic stroke appear to be justified, our findings should not prevent its continued use for this group of patients in clinical practice.

scholarly journals Efficacy and safety of Finasteride (5 alpha-reductase inhibitor) monotherapy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A critical review of the literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-210
Author(s):  
Gian Maria Busetto ◽  
Francesco Del Giudice ◽  
Daniele D'Agostino ◽  
Daniele Romagnoli ◽  
Andrea Minervini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Reductase Inhibitor ◽  
Prostate Volume ◽  
Prostatic Hyperplasia ◽  
Urinary Flow ◽  
Efficacy And Safety

Background: Combination therapy with 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) and alpha-blocker can be considered as a gold standard intervention for medical management of lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). On the other hand, 5-ARI monotherapy and in particular Finasteride alone is currently getting focus of attention especially due to lack of systematic reviews investigating efficacy outcomes and/or adverse events associated. Objectives: Aim of the present critical review was to analyze current knowledge of clinical efficacy and incidence of adverse events associated with 5-ARI treatment for LUTS/BPH. Materials and methods: A systematic review of clinical trials of the literature of the past 20 years was performed using database from PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration and Embase. A total of 8821 patients were included in this study and inclusion criteria for studies selection were: data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) focusing their attention on the clinical role of Finasteride monotherapy for symptomatic BPH. Parameters of research included prostate specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume (PV), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPPS), postvoid residual urine (PVR), voiding symptoms of IPSS (voiding IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and adverse events (AEs). Results: Overall 12 original articles were included and critically evaluated. Sample sizes of patient actively treated with finasteride varied from 13 to 1524 cases analyzed in a single study. Follow-up after treatments ranged from 3 to 54 months. The effect of finasteride in reducing prostate volume (PV) was moderate (standardized mean difference (SMD) effect between 0.5 to 0.8 for all trials evaluable) while the effect on IPSS score and Qmax was considered significant (SMD in the 0.2 to 0.5 variation range). No severe AEs and/or psychiatric disorders were retrieved among the studies. Sexual health dysfunctions were significantly influenced by finasteride therapy when compared with placebo treated patients. Conclusions: Although significant clinical benefits of finasteride monotherapy were demonstrated, the effective size of the available reports included in the analysis is limited. Additional head-to-head studies would be needed to re-evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of 5-ARI in combination or not with alpha blockers.

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