Steroid Treatment of Laryngotracheitis: A Meta-Analysis of the Evidence From Randomized Trials

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 683-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W. Kairys ◽  
Elaine Marsh Olmstead ◽  
Gerald T. O'Connor

The use of adrenocorticoids to reduce the morbidity associated with laryngotracheitis (croup) remains controversial despite ten published reports of randomized trials involving 1,286 patients. To determine whether, viewed in aggregate, these studies demonstrate a significant benefit of steroid treatment for this disorder, a meta-analysis of the nine methodologically satisfactory trials was performed. Clinical improvement 12 and 24 hours posttreatment and incidence of endotracheal intubation were evaluated. For each end point, an estimate of the overall effect was obtained by calculating a typical odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. This analysis indicates that the use of steroids in children hospitalized with croup is associated with a significantly increased proportion of patients showing clinical improvement 12 hours (odds ratio = 2.25, 95% confidence interval = 1.66, 3.06) and 24 hours (odds ratio = 3.19, 95% confidence interval = 1.70, 5.99) posttreatment and a significantly reduced incidence of endotracheal intubation (odds ratio = 0.21, 95% confidence interval = 0.05, 0.84). Higher initial doses of steroid (≥125 mg of cortisone or ≥100 mg of hydrocortisone) were associated with a larger proportion of patients improved 12 hours posttreatment than was seen with lower doses. These results support the use of steroids in the treatment of hospitalized children with croup and, in the absence of a randomized clinical trial of sufficient size, provide the most reliable estimate of the impact of steroid therapy on the morbidity associated with croup. In addition, the results of this meta-analysis may be used to estimate the number of subjects who would be required to conduct a randomized clinical trial of steroids for the treatment of croup.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bum Jun Kim ◽  
Hyeong Su Kim ◽  
Hyun Joo Jang ◽  
Jung Han Kim

Objective.Several recent reviews of published studies have shown that the eradication ofH. pyloriinfection in patients with ITP improved thrombocytopenia in about half of the cases. However, most included studies were observational case series. We performed the first meta-analysis of randomized trials to gain a better insight into the effect ofH. pylorieradication in ITP patients.Methods.A systematic computerized search of the electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library (up to December 2017) was conducted.Results.From six studies, a total of 241 patients (125 in eradication group and 116 in control group) were included in the meta-analysis. Patients in the eradication group showed significantly higher overall platelet response rate than those in the control group (odds ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–3.71,P=0.05). In the subgroup analysis, however, children in the eradication group failed to show statistically better response rate than those in the noneradication group (odds ratio = 1.80, 95% confidence interval: 0.88–3.65,P=0.11).Conclusions.This meta-analysis indicates thatH. pylorieradication has a significant therapeutic effect in patients with ITP. Considering the intrinsic limits in the design and sample size of the included studies, however, large randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate the therapeutic impact ofH. pylorieradication in adults as well as children with ITP.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205031211982826
Author(s):  
Pradyumna Agasthi ◽  
Kantha Ratnam Kolla ◽  
Charan Yerasi ◽  
Sibghat Tullah ◽  
Venkata Siva Pulivarthi ◽  
...  

Background: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the benefit of patent foramen ovale closure in stroke prevention. Methods: We searched Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane central database for randomized control trials assessing the incidence of recurrent stroke after patent foramen ovale closure when compared to medical therapy. Pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random effects model. The heterogeneity among studies was tested using the χ2 test and inconsistency was quantified using the I2 statistic. Results: Our search strategy yielded 71 articles. We included five studies with a total of 3440 patients. Median age in the device group was 45 (43, 5.5) years and in the medical group was 45 (44.5, 46) years; 52% were male, 27.7% of patients had an atrial septal aneurysm, 25% had hypertension, and 20.5% had diabetes mellitus. The median follow-up time was 44 (34.5–50) months. The pooled odds ratio of recurrent stroke, transient ischemic attack and composite end point of stroke + transient ischemic attack + peripheral embolism in the patent foramen ovale closure versus medical therapy group were 0.4 (95% confidence interval 0.25–0.63, I2 = 57.5%), 0.93 (95% confidence interval 0.61–1.42, I2 = 0%), and 0.6 (95% confidence interval 0.44–0.82, I2 = 0%), respectively. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was found to be significantly higher in the patent foramen ovale closure group with odds ratio of 6 (95% confidence interval 3.13–11.4, I2 = 33.5%). On subgroup analysis, patent foramen ovale closure appeared to benefit males and patients with a large shunt. Number needed to treat to prevent one recurrent stroke with patent foramen ovale closure is 42. Number needed to harm to cause one atrial fibrillation with patent foramen ovale closure is 39. Conclusion: This meta-analysis of randomized trials concludes that percutaneous patent foramen ovale closure is effective in recurrent stroke prevention especially in males and in those with a large shunt.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marouf Alhalabi ◽  
Mohammed Waleed Alassi ◽  
Kamal Alaa Eddin ◽  
Khaled Cheha

Abstract Background Antibiotic-resistance reduces the efficacy of conventional triple therapy for Helicobacter Pylori infections worldwide, which necessitates using various treatment protocols. We used two protocols, doxycycline-based quadruple regimen and concomitant levofloxacin regimen. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of doxycycline-based quadruple regimen for treating Helicobacter Pylori infections compared with levofloxacin concomitant regimen as empirical first-line therapy based on intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol analyses (PPA) in Syrian population. Settings and design An open-label, randomised, parallel, superiority clinical trial. Methods We randomly assigned 78 naïve patients who tested positive for Helicobacter Pylori gastric infection, with a 1:1 ratio to (D-group) which received (bismuth subsalicylate 524 mg four times daily, doxycycline 100 mg, tinidazole 500 mg, and esomeprazole 20 mg, each twice per day for 2 weeks), or (L-group) which received (levofloxacin 500 mg daily, tinidazole 500 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and esomeprazole 20 mg each twice per day for two weeks). We confirmed Helicobacter Pylori eradication by stool antigen test 8 weeks after completing the treatment. Results Thirty-nine patients were allocated in each group. In the D-group, 38 patients completed the follow-up, 30 patients were cured. While in the L-group, 39 completed the follow-up, 32patients were cured. According to ITT, the eradication rates were 76.92%, and 82.05%, for the D-group and L-group respectively. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was 1.371 [0.454–4.146]. According to PPA, the eradication rates were 78.9%, and 82.05% for the D-group and L-group respectively. The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was 1.219 [0.394–3.774]. We didn’t report serious adverse effects. Conclusions Levofloxacin concomitant therapy wasn’t superior to doxycycline based quadruple therapy. Further researches are required to identify the optimal first-line treatment for Helicobacter-Pylori Infection in the Syrian population. Trial registration We registered this study as a standard randomized clinical trial (Clinicaltrial.gov, identifier-NCT04348786, date:29-January-2020).


Author(s):  
Mairi Pucci ◽  
Diletta Onorato ◽  
Giovanni Carpene ◽  
Brandon Michael Henry ◽  
Fabian Sanchis-Gomar ◽  
...  

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has spread rapidly throughout the world, becoming an overwhelming global health emergency. The array of injuries caused by this virus is broad and not limited to the respiratory system, but encompassing also extensive endothelial and systemic tissue damage. Since statins effectively improve endothelial function, these drugs may have beneficial effects in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, this investigation aimed to provide an updated overview on the interplay between statins and COVID-19, with particular focus on their potentially protective role against progression toward severe or critical illness and death. A systematic electronic search was performed in Scopus and PubMed up to present time. Data on statins use and COVID-19 outcomes especially in studies performed in Europe and North America were extracted and pooled. A total of seven studies met our inclusion criteria, totaling 2,398 patients (1,075 taking statins, i.e., 44.8%). Overall, statin usage in Western patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was associated with nearly 40% lower odds of progressing toward severe illness or death (odds ratio: 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.35–0.99). After excluding studies in which statin therapy was started during hospital admission, the beneficial effect of these drugs was magnified (odds ratio: 0.51; 95% confidence interval: 0.41–0.64). In conclusion, although randomized trials would be necessary to confirm these preliminary findings, current evidence would support a favorable effect of statins as adjuvant therapy in patients with COVID-19. Irrespective of these considerations, suspension of statin therapy seems highly unadvisable in COVID-19 patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 205031212098245
Author(s):  
Assefa Tola Gemeda ◽  
Lemma Demissie Regassa ◽  
Adisu Birhanu Weldesenbet ◽  
Bedasa Taye Merga ◽  
Nanti Legesse ◽  
...  

The foundation of controlling hypertension is adherence to antihypertensive medication adherence. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the magnitude and associated factors of adherence to antihypertensive medication among adult hypertensive patients in Ethiopia. A comprehensible bibliographic searching was conducted from PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science core collection. All published and unpublished studies that had been accessible before 31 May 2020, and written in English were eligible. Joanna Briggs Institute assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the findings of the included studies. Stata software 16.0 was used to analyze the data. Study-specific estimates were pooled to determine the overall prevalence estimate across studies using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Publication bias and heterogeneity were checked. Fourteen studies with a total of 4938 hypertensive patients were included in the final systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of medication adherence among hypertensive patients in Ethiopia was 65.41% (95% confidence interval: 58.91–71.91). Sub-group analysis shown that the pooled prevalence of medication adherence was the highest (69.07%, 95% confidence interval: 57.83–80.31, I2 = 93.51) among studies using questionnaire technique whereas the lowest in Morisky Medication Adherence Scale eight-items (60.66%, 95% confidence interval: 48.92–72.40, I2 = 97.16). Moreover, medication adherence was associated with the presence of comorbidities (pooled odds ratio = 0.23, 95% confidence interval: 0.07–0.38, p = 0.030, I2 = 54.9%) and knowledge about the disease and its management (pooled odds ratio = 2.98, 95% confidence interval: 1.72–4.24, p = 0.04, I2 = 55.55%) but not with place of residence (pooled odds ratio = 1.22, 95% confidence interval: 0.51–1.93, p = 0.00, I2 = 76.9%). Despite a lack of uniformity among included studies, adherence to antihypertensive medication among the hypertensive population in Ethiopia was moderate. The presence of comorbidities and/or complications reduced the odds of adherence whereas having good knowledge about the disease increased chance of medication adherence among hypertensive patients.


Author(s):  
Gerald Matchett ◽  
Irina Gasanova ◽  
Christina A. Riccio ◽  
Dawood Nasir ◽  
Mary C. Sunna ◽  
...  

BMJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. k4738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna C Crocker ◽  
Ignacio Ricci-Cabello ◽  
Adwoa Parker ◽  
Jennifer A Hirst ◽  
Alan Chant ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the impact of patient and public involvement (PPI) on rates of enrolment and retention in clinical trials and explore how this varies with the context and nature of PPI.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesTen electronic databases, including Medline, INVOLVE Evidence Library, and clinical trial registries.Eligibility criteriaExperimental and observational studies quantitatively evaluating the impact of a PPI intervention, compared with no intervention or non-PPI intervention(s), on participant enrolment and/or retention rates in a clinical trial or trials. PPI interventions could include additional non-PPI components inseparable from the PPI (for example, other stakeholder involvement).Data extraction and analysisTwo independent reviewers extracted data on enrolment and retention rates, as well as on the context and characteristics of PPI intervention, and assessed risk of bias. Random effects meta-analyses were used to determine the average effect of PPI interventions on enrolment and retention in clinical trials: main analysis including randomised studies only, secondary analysis adding non-randomised studies, and several exploratory subgroup and sensitivity analyses.Results26 studies were included in the review; 19 were eligible for enrolment meta-analysis and five for retention meta-analysis. Various PPI interventions were identified with different degrees of involvement, different numbers and types of people involved, and input at different stages of the trial process. On average, PPI interventions modestly but significantly increased the odds of participant enrolment in the main analysis (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval and prediction interval 1.01 to 1.34). Non-PPI components of interventions may have contributed to this effect. In exploratory subgroup analyses, the involvement of people with lived experience of the condition under study was significantly associated with improved enrolment (odds ratio 3.14v1.07; P=0.02). The findings for retention were inconclusive owing to the paucity of eligible studies (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 4.14), for main analysis).ConclusionsThese findings add weight to the case for PPI in clinical trials by indicating that it is likely to improve enrolment of participants, especially if it includes people with lived experience of the health condition under study. Further research is needed to assess which types of PPI work best in particular contexts, the cost effectiveness of PPI, the impact of PPI at earlier stages of trial design, and the impact of PPI interventions specifically targeting retention.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42016043808.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (13) ◽  
pp. 1065-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iván Sánchez Fernández ◽  
J. Leon Morales-Quezada ◽  
Samuel Law ◽  
Paggie Kim

Objective: To quantify the prognostic value of neonatal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Methods: Meta-analysis of studies with ≥35-week neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who underwent brain MRI within age 4 weeks and had neurodevelopmental follow-up for at least 12 months. Results: An abnormal neonatal brain MRI was more frequent among patients with unfavorable neurodevelopmental outcome: odds ratio = 18.2 (95% confidence interval: 9.4-34.9), P <.0001. The prognostic value of neonatal brain MRI in moderate hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy had an odds ratio of 17.7 (95% confidence interval: 5.3-59.3) and in severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, the odds ratio was 125.0 (95% confidence interval: 2.0-7917.1). Therapeutic hypothermia did not change the prognostic value of neonatal brain MRI (odds ratio for hypothermia, 14.0 [95% confidence interval: 3.1-63.6], vs no hypothermia, 18.1 [95% confidence interval: 10.0-33.1], P = .7525). Conclusion: Neonatal brain MRI provides prognostic information on outcome beyond early infancy in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and therapeutic hypothermia does not change its prognostic value.


2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1220-1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Whelan ◽  
Jim Julian ◽  
Jim Wright ◽  
Alejandro R. Jadad ◽  
Mark L. Levine

PURPOSE: Recent randomized trials in women with node-positive breast cancer who received systemic treatment report that locoregional radiation therapy improves survival. Previous trials failed to detect a difference in survival that results from its use. A systematic review of randomized trials that examine the effectiveness of locoregional radiation therapy in patients treated by definitive surgery and adjuvant systemic therapy was conducted. METHODS: Randomized trials published between 1967 and 1999 were identified through MEDLINE database, CancerLit database, and reference lists of relevant articles. Relevant data was abstracted. The results of randomized trials were pooled using meta-analyses to estimate the effect of treatment on any recurrence, locoregional recurrence, and mortality. RESULTS: Eighteen trials that involved a total of 6,367 patients were identified. Most trials included both pre- and postmenopausal women with node-positive breast cancer treated with modified radical mastectomy. The type of systemic therapy received, sites irradiated, techniques used, and doses of radiation delivered varied between trials. Data on toxicity were infrequently reported. Radiation was shown to reduce the risk of any recurrence (odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58 to 0.83), local recurrence (odds ratio, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.34), and mortality (odds ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.94). CONCLUSION: Locoregional radiation after surgery in patients treated with systemic therapy reduced mortality. Several questions remain on how these results should be translated into current-day clinical practice.


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