Medicine
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Modified bazhen decoction (MBZD) is a classical Chinese medicine formula with potential efficacy in the treatment of chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency (CCCI), and its main components and potential mechanisms are still unclear. The study aimed to investigate the active ingredients and mechanism of action of MBZD in treating CCCI through network pharmacology combined with molecular docking. The chemical composition and targets of 11 Chinese herbs in MBZD were retrieved utilizing the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform platform, and the targets for CCCI were screened by Genecards, online mendelian inheritance in man, therapeutic target database, and comparative toxicogenomics database databases. ⋯ The central core targets were IL6, MAPK14, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, RELA, VEGFA, CCND1, CASP3, AR, FOS, JUN, EGFR, MAPK1, AKT1, MYC, and ESR1; gene ontology functional enrichment analysis yielded 911 gene ontology items (P < .01), while Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment yielded 138 signal pathways (P < .01), primarily including oxidative reactions, vascular regulation, apoptosis, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The molecular docking results showed that the core active component of MBZD had good binding with the main target. This research initially uncovered the mechanism of action of MBZD via multi-component-multi-target-multi-pathway for the treatment of CCCI, providing the theoretical basis for the clinical application of MBZD.
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Meta Analysis
The efficacy of aprepitant for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: A meta-analysis.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the common adverse reactions after surgery. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating antiemetic drugs suggest that aprepitant has the strongest antiemetic effect of any single drug. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the efficacy of aprepitant for preventing PONV based on the existing literature. ⋯ Aprepitant effectively reduces the incidence of PONV; however, the effects of postoperative analgesia require further exploration.
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Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) resulting from trauma can be severe and permanently disabling, approximately one-third of PNIs demonstrate incomplete recovery and poor functional restoration. However, despite extensive research on this aspect, complete functional recovery remains a challenge. In East Asian countries, Chinese herbal Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD) has been used to treat PNI for more than 200 years, and the studies of BHD to treat PNI have been increasing in recent years based on positive clinical outcomes. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to scientifically evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of BHD in patients with PNI. ⋯ Current evidence suggests that BHD is an effective and safe treatment for PNI and could be treated as a complementary and alternative option with few side effects compared to a single treatment with neurotrophic drugs or electrical stimulation. However, considering the low methodological quality of the included studies, further rigorous studies are required.
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Acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy (RT) have been widely used for post-stroke shoulder pain (PSSP), but the efficacy of acupuncture versus RT remains unclear. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of acupuncture versus RT for PSSP. ⋯ Acupuncture is similar to RT in relieving shoulder pain, improving upper limb motor function and ADL in patients with PSSP. Either acupuncture or RT might be the optimal treatment of PSSP. More well-designed RCTs of this topic are needed in the future.
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Meta Analysis
Aortic propagation velocity in predicting coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) and its outcome, myocardial infarction, is yet a significant etiology of mortality and morbidity nowadays. The aortic propagation velocity (APV) can be a simple, straightforward and novel echocardiographic index for the risk stratification in the evaluation of CAD. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the predictive role of APV in CAD. ⋯ There was a predictive role of APV in CAD with suitable specificity and sensitivity. Moreover, aortic distensibility and aortic strain were significantly different in CAD and non-CAD patients. APV could be used as a good noninvasive tool for screening CAD.