Drug Des Dev Ther
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Review Meta Analysis
Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are associated with reduced cardiovascular risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are widely used in patients with rheumatic diseases, but their effects on the cardiovascular system remain unclear. We aimed to assess whether CQ/HCQ could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). ⋯ Our results suggested that CQ/HCQ was associated with a reduced risk of CVD in patients with rheumatic diseases. Randomized trials are needed to confirm the potential of CQ/HCQ in cardiovascular prevention in patients with and without rheumatic diseases.
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Review Meta Analysis
The influence of prebiotic or probiotic supplementation on antibody titers after influenza vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Influenza infection is a common disease with a huge disease burden. Influenza vaccination has been widely used, but concerns regarding vaccine efficacy exist, especially in the elderly. Probiotics are live microorganisms with immunomodulatory effects and may enhance the immune responses to influenza vaccination. ⋯ Supplementation with prebiotics or probiotics may enhance the influenza hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers in all A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B strains (20%, 19.5%, and 13.6% increases, respectively). Concomitant prebiotics or probiotics supplementation with influenza vaccination may hold great promise for improving vaccine efficacy. However, high heterogeneity was observed and further studies are warranted.
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Meta Analysis
Effect and safety of antithrombotic therapies for secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome: a network meta-analysis.
Dual antiplatelet therapy is a standard protocol for secondary prevention after acute coronary syndrome, but despite a variety of new dual antithrombotic strategies, there is a dearth of studies evaluating the effects and safety of some popular therapies. This study used a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of all available antithrombotic therapies. ⋯ We concluded the following from our study: 1) an aspirin + new P2Y12 inhibitor/ clopidogrel conversion treatment strategy was not inferior to aspirin + new P2Y12 inhibitor; 2) compared with aspirin + clopidogrel, the conversion strategy may further reduce the risk of myocardial infarction without increasing the risk of bleeding; and 3) compared with aspirin + clopidogrel, treatment with aspirin + new P2Y12 inhibitors may result in reduced risk of death.
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Review
Benralizumab in the treatment of severe asthma: design, development and potential place in therapy.
Asthma is a widespread and heterogeneous inflammatory disease of the airways, which is characterized by several different phenotypes and endotypes. In particular, eosinophilic airway inflammation is a common pathologic trait of both allergic and nonallergic asthma. The key cytokine responsible for maturation, activation, recruitment, and survival of eosinophils is interleukin (IL)-5, which is mainly produced by T helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes and group 2 innate lymphoid cells. ⋯ Among these new treatments, anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibodies such as mepolizumab and reslizumab have been developed and clinically evaluated. Furthermore, benralizumab is currently the only available biologic drug that specifically binds to the IL-5 receptor, thus preventing the interaction with its ligand and the consequent pro-inflammatory effects. The effectiveness of benralizumab in improving severe eosinophilic asthma has been well-documented by many randomized controlled trials.
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The prominent immune checkpoint molecule, programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), is the object of increasing attention. Here, we report a meta-analysis investigating the safety and efficacy of durvalumab (MEDI4736), an inhibitor of PD-L1, in various solid tumors. ⋯ Durvalumab is safe in patients with many solid cancers and, in combination with tremelimumab, it has a tolerable safety profile and is associated with improved prognosis. PD-L1 expression is a biomarker of the efficacy of durvalumab.