Annals of medicine
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To evaluate the effect of body weight (BW) on safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). ⋯ Results of our meta-analysis suggested that DOACs might be a safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of acute VTE even in the patients with extreme body weights. However, other studies with larger study populations are warranted to confirm our findings.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and lethal form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. The disease, which occurs primarily in middle-aged and older adults, is thought to arise following an aberrant reparative response to alveolar epithelial cell injury characterized by secretion of excessive amounts of extracellular matrix components, resulting in scarring of the lung, architectural distortion, and irreversible loss of function. A complex interplay between environmental and host factors is thought to contribute to the development of the disease, although the cause of IPF remains elusive and its pathogenesis incompletely understood. ⋯ This massive effort of the medical and industry community has led to the identification of two compounds (pirfenidone and nintedanib) able to reduce functional decline and disease progression. These promising results notwithstanding, IPF remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality and a largely unmet medical need. A real cure for this devastating disease has yet to emerge and will likely consist of a combination of drugs targeting the plethora of pathways potentially involved in disease pathogenesis.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effects of canrenone on inflammatory markers in patients with metabolic syndrome.
To evaluate the effects of canrenone compared to placebo on blood pressure control, some non-conventional biomarkers in cardiovascular stratification, and on metalloproteinases in patients affected by metabolic syndrome. ⋯ Canrenone seems to be effective in reducing blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome. Moreover, canrenone seems also to improve MPO, Lp(a), and metalloproteinases in these patients.
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Overweight and obesity in childhood have been linked to an increased risk of adult mortality, but evidence is still scarce. ⋯ An increasing BMI in early life may shorten the lifespan of maturing cohorts as they age, particularly among women.
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Review Meta Analysis
Effects of probiotics consumption on lowering lipids and CVD risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
This meta-analysis examined the effect of probiotics on the reduction of lipid components and coexisting risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. All randomized controlled trials published in English on PubMed and Scopus from 2000 to 2014 were systematically searched. Using the PEDro scale to assess the quality of studies, a total of 15 studies with 788 subjects were selected for inclusion in the analysis. ⋯ Subgroup analysis revealed statistically significant effects of probiotics on total cholesterol and LDL when the medium was fermented milk or yogurt (P < 0.001) compared to capsule form, consumption was at least 8 weeks in duration (P < 0.001), and the probiotics consisted of multiple strains (P < 0.001) rather than a single strain. A significant reduction was found in LDL in trials which contained Lactobacillus Acidophilus strain (P < 0.001) compared to other types of strains. Our findings suggest that probiotic supplementation use is effective in lowering the lipid level and coexisting factors associated with cardiovascular disease.