Exp Ther Med
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The chest X-ray is routinely requested by pediatricians for children with suspected pneumonia, but has been demonstrated to be an insensitive method with relatively low accuracy. Computed tomography (CT) allows for the characterization of the consolidation in pneumonia but has a high risk of radiation exposure in children. Lung ultrasonography can identify subpleural lung consolidation in adults, but it is not accepted in routine clinical practice and is also not used for the diagnosis of children with pneumonia. ⋯ Compared with the chest CT, the lung ultrasound displayed 0.906 sensitivity and 0.661 accuracy, while the chest radiograph displayed 0.793 sensitivity and 0.559 accuracy. For a pneumonia severity index of <3, the chest CT displayed a good beneficial score, followed by the lung ultrasound and chest radiograph. In conclusion, lung ultrasound is a non-invasive and simple method that could be used for the diagnosis of suspected pneumonia in children.
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Garlic supplements have shown effectiveness in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients, similarly to first-line standard anti-hypertensive medications. Kyolic garlic has also shown promise in improving cardiovascular health by reducing arterial stiffness, elevated cholesterol levels and blood 'stickiness'. In addition, the prebiotic properties in garlic increase gut microbial richness and diversity. ⋯ Additionally, this review summarises new evidence for the vitamin B12 status playing an important role in the responsiveness of blood pressure to garlic. Furthermore, Kyolic aged garlic extract significantly lowered central blood pressure, pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity and arterial stiffness, and improved the gut microbiota, evidenced by higher microbial richness and diversity, with a marked increase in the numbers of Lactobacillus and Clostridia species found following 3 months of supplementation. Thus, Kyolic aged garlic extract is considered to be highly tolerable with a high safety profile either as a stand-alone or adjunctive anti-hypertensive treatment, with multiple benefits for cardiovascular health.
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The present meta-analysis study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of local administration of botulinum toxin (BTX-A) vs. lidocaine in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. A systematic search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Chongqing VIP Information Co. and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BTX-A and lidocaine in the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. The primary outcomes were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores at 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment and the effective rate. ⋯ There was no difference in the adverse event rate between treatments. In conclusion, BTX-A has potential as a safe and effective treatment option for post-herpetic neuralgia. Further large and well-designed RCTs are required to confirm this conclusion.
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Pulse oximetry and measurement of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rcSO2) are used to monitor peripheral and cerebral oxygenation, respectively. However, the response of rcSO2 and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) to hypoxia in preschool children has not been previously assessed. A total of 36 preschool patients who had undergone a tonsillectomy [age, 4-6 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I or II] were screened and prospectively enrolled in the present study. ⋯ From the baseline to the minimum value, compared with the SpO2, the rcSO2 declined at a decreased rate (9.7±0.5% vs. 5.3±2.7%; P<0.001). The present clinical trial was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn on 14th March 2016 (registration no. ChiCTR-OOC-16008095).
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Crucial to the development and maintenance of pain sensations is neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR), the low affinity receptor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This receptor is widespread among dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the spinal cord. Few reports have demonstrated the specific role of p75NTR in the development of cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP). ⋯ PWT, in response to mechanical stimulation, was significantly lower compared with that in sham rats and the ambulatory score was significantly higher than that in sham rats. Finally, intrathecal injection of a p75NTR-targeting small interfering RNA significantly decreased mTOR and p75NTR expression levels in DRG neurons and the spinal cord of CIBP rats, as well as partially reversing the decline in PWTs and the increase in ambulatory score. In conclusion, the present study determined that the activation of BDNF/p75NTR/mTOR signaling may participate in nociceptive transmission in CIBP, suggesting a novel mechanism and potential therapeutic target for CIBP treatment and management.