Safety and Efficacy of Imiquimod in the Treatment of Infantile Hemangioma; a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of imiquimod in the treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH). Method: Systematic search was conducted in nine electronic databases for selecting relevant articles reporting the safety and efficacy of imiquimod as a therapeutic agent for treatment of IH. Meta-analysis was used to pool the results. Results: Of total 180 records screened, we included 9 studies for this systematic review and meta-analysis. About one-fifth of the patients (20.9%) have showed clinical resolution with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 11.8% to 34.1%. Regarding IH type, superficial type showed the highest rates of both clinical resolution and excellent response rates with 31.2% (95% CI= 16.6% to 50.8%) and 26.5% (95% CI= 11.6% to 49.6%), respectively. A relatively high prevalence of any side effects with 63.1% (95% CI= 47.6% to 76.3%) has been reported. The highest reported side effect was crustation (44.1%; 95% CI= 27.8% to 61.8%). Conclusion: Imiquimod is effective in the treatment of superficial IH and it is associated with local side effects.

Download Full-text

Efficacy and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9050467 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 467

Author(s):

Ali Pormohammad ◽

Mohammad Zarei ◽

Saied Ghorbani ◽

Mehdi Mohammadi ◽

Mohammad Hossein Razizadeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Side Effects ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Receptor Binding Domain ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Vectored Vaccine ◽

Local Side

The current study systematically reviewed, summarized and meta-analyzed the clinical features of the vaccines in clinical trials to provide a better estimate of their efficacy, side effects and immunogenicity. All relevant publications were systematically searched and collected from major databases up to 12 March 2021. A total of 25 RCTs (123 datasets), 58,889 cases that received the COVID-19 vaccine and 46,638 controls who received placebo were included in the meta-analysis. In total, mRNA-based and adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccines had 94.6% (95% CI 0.936–0.954) and 80.2% (95% CI 0.96.4–0.92.7) efficacy in phase II/III RCTs, respectively. Efficacy of the adenovirus-vectored vaccine after the first (97.6%; 95% CI 0.939–0.997) and second (98.2%; 95% CI 0.980–0.984) doses was the highest against receptor-binding domain (RBD) antigen after 3 weeks of injections. The mRNA-based vaccines had the highest level of side effects reported except for diarrhea and arthralgia. Aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines had the lowest systemic and local side effects between vaccines’ adjuvant or without adjuvant, except for injection site redness. The adenovirus-vectored and mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 showed the highest efficacy after first and second doses, respectively. The mRNA-based vaccines had higher side effects. Remarkably few experienced extreme adverse effects and all stimulated robust immune responses.

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Second-generation antipsychotic drugs and extrapyramidal side effects: a systematic review and meta-analysis of head-to-head comparisons.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.14224958.15737062 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Hans Peter Volz

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Side Effects ◽

Antipsychotic Drugs ◽

Second Generation ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Extrapyramidal Side Effects ◽

Second Generation Antipsychotic

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants compared to warfarin for extended treatment of venous thromboembolism -a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.725724521.793533042 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey Weitz

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Safety And Efficacy ◽

Extended Treatment

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Safety and efficacy of testosterone for women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trial data.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.736286716.793566848 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Linda Vignozzi

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Trial Data ◽

Safety And Efficacy ◽

Randomised Controlled

Download Full-text

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment for peripartum depression: systematic review & meta-analysis

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-03600-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hyune June Lee ◽

Sung Min Kim ◽

Ji Yean Kwon

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Side Effects ◽

Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽

Effect Size ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Peripartum Depression

Abstract Background Peripartum depression is a common disorder with very high potential hazards for both the patients and their babies. The typical treatment options include antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy. However, these treatments do not ensure the safety of the fetus. Recently, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has emerged as a promising treatment for neuropathies as well as depression. Nevertheless, many studies excluded pregnant women. This systematic review was conducted to confirm whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation was a suitable treatment option for peripartum depression. Methods We performed a systematic review that followed the PRISMA guidelines. We searched for studies in the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases published until the end of September 2020. Eleven studies were selected for the systematic review, and five studies were selected for quantitative synthesis. Data analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 3 software. The effect size was analyzed using the standardized mean difference, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was determined by the generic inverse variance estimation method. Results The therapeutic effect size of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for peripartum depression was 1.394 (95% CI: 0.944–1.843), and the sensitivity analysis effect size was 1.074 (95% CI: 0.689–1.459), indicating a significant effect. The side effect size of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for peripartum depression was 0.346 (95% CI: 0.214–0.506), a meaningful result. There were no severe side effects to the mothers or fetuses. Conclusions From various perspectives, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can be considered an alternative treatment to treat peripartum depression to avoid exposure of fetuses to drugs and the severe side effects of electroconvulsive therapy. Further research is required to increase confidence in the results.

Download Full-text