Network meta-analysis of Chinese patent medicine adjuvant treatment of poststroke depression

Study on the Effect of Self-Made Lifei Dingchuan Decoction Combined with Western Medicine on Cough Variant Asthma

Aims

To observe the clinical efficacy of self-made Lifei Dingchuan decoction combined with western medicine in the treatment of cough variant asthma (phlegm-heat accumulation in the lung syndrome).

Materials and Methods

The clinical data of 90 patients with cough variant asthma who were hospitalized in the Department of Respiratory Medicine of our hospital from January 2020 to April 2022 were selected as the research objects, and they were equally divided into the observation group and the reference group according to different treatment methods, 45 cases in each group. The group was treated with traditional montelukast sodium chewable tablet and salmeterol fluticasone mixed powder inhalation, and the observation group was treated with self-made Lifei Dingchuan decoction on the basis of the control group, saturation, pH, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, length of stay, and hospitalization costs.

Results

After the patients underwent self-made Lifei Dingchuan decoction, there were significant differences between the observation group and the reference group in terms of heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, pH value, arterial blood oxygen partial pressure, carbon dioxide partial pressure, and within the group. There was a statistical difference (P < 0.05). The adverse reactions in patients with cough variant asthma after treatment showed that the red throat, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and dry mouth in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group (P < 0.05). After investigation, follow-up, and statistics, the hospitalization time, hospitalization cost, asthma exacerbation control time, effective rate, and recurrence rate were compared between the two groups, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study on the clinical efficacy and low hospitalization cost of the self-prepared lung and asthma-restorative soup in patients with cough variant asthma significantly improved the patients' arterial oxygen saturation, acid-base value, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide and effectively controlled the heart rate and respiratory rate with high safety, which is worth further promotion.

A Network Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Commonly Used Chinese Patent Medicines in the Auxiliary Treatment of Poststroke Depression

Background

Poststroke depression (PSD) is a serious complication of clinical cerebrovascular disease. Patients not only have depression-related emotional symptoms but also have physical symptoms, such as autonomic dysfunction. At the same time, patients with varying degrees of depression will delay the neurological function of stroke patients. The recovery time of cognitive function and limb function will increase the risk of accidental death and even aggravate the mortality of cerebrovascular disease. Through combining data analysis and related literature, seven types of Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) widely used in the clinical treatment of PSD have been screened out. These herbs exhibit some clinical comparability under the conditions that the syndrome type and dosage form are relatively uniform. Therefore, in this study, the network meta-analysis method was used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the seven CPMs screened out, and the probability ranking was performed to screen the best clinical auxiliary treatment plan of CPM.

Methods

We searched the Chinese databases, including CNKI, WANFANG, and VIP, as well as the English databases, including the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed, from inception to May 31, 2020, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on seven kinds of CPMs that were the subjects of the clinical research. The bias risk and quality of the included studies were analyzed with the Cochrane Handbook (version 5.1), ADDIS, and R software, and the results were compared in a network meta-analysis (NMA).

Results

In terms of clinical effectiveness, the seven kinds of CPMs all improved clinical curative effects, with Jieyu Anshen capsule adjuvant treatment having the most significant effect [odds ratio (OR) = 5.00, 95% CI (1.72–9.48)]. Wuling capsule AT can effectively reduce the score index of scale factors for the HAMD score, NIHSS score, and TESS score [mean difference (MD) = −3.95, 95% CI (−4.88–3.00); OR = −3.25, 95% CI (−5.46)–1.05); OR = 0.22, 95% CI (0.05–0.79), resp.].

Conclusion

The mechanisms of seven CPMs in the adjuvant treatment of PSD have advantages. In terms of safety and efficacy, the CPMs had better clinical adjuvant treatment performance. Although this study concluded that the Jieyu Anshen capsule is the preferred drug for clinical treatment, a clear conclusion still needs to be verified in a high-quality randomized controlled study. In clinical practice, accurate selection and application can be carried out according to the specific characteristics of patients.

Effect and safety of oral Chinese patent medicine for heart failure: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is the terminal stage of various common cardiovascular diseases with quite a frequent readmission and a high mortality rate, and brings heavy financial burdens to families and society. Oral Chinese patent medicine (CPM) has been widely applied in the treatment of HF in China because of its simplicity, cheapness, convenience, and high efficiency. However, due to the large number and broad clinical selectivity of oral CPMs, there is a lack of uniformity and clinical application standardization. To choose more effective and safe medicine among so many oral CPMs is particularly essential for further improving the therapeutic effect. In this study, the efficacy and safety of different oral CPMs will be compared by a network meta-analysis (NMA), and the best CPM will be selected for the treatment of HF.

METHODS

According to the search strategy, 4 English and 4 Chinese databases will be searched from the construction of the library to July 31, 2020. The NMA will include clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of different oral CPMs in HF treatment. The methodological quality is assessed according to the bias risk assessment tool of Cochrane. The Bayesian NMA is performed by Aggregate Data Drug Information System (ADDIS), and the results are visualized using Stata 15.0 software. The GRADE approach is used to assess the quality of evidence and recommendation intensity.

RESULTS

The NMA will identify the best oral CPM in the complementary treatment of HF. A peer-reviewed journal will publish the results of the study.

CONCLUSION

This study can provide reliable evidence for the efficacy and safety of oral CPMs in the treatment of HF, and help decision-makers and patients to select more effective and safer oral CPM.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER

INPLASY202090053.