Erica L Baker

Use of N-acetylcysteine to reduce post-cardiothoracic surgery complications: a meta-analysis

Post-cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) complications (e.g. myocardial injury, renal dysfunction, atrial fibrillation) may occur as a result of enhanced systemic inflammation, perhaps provoked by an oxidative stress response. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a free radical scavenger antioxidant agent that may attenuate this physiologic response and reduce post-CTS complications. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to help characterize the potential beneficial effects of perioperative NAC administration in patients undergoing CTS. A systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library was conducted through April 2008. A search strategy using medical subject headings and text keywords was performed. Results are reported as odds ratios or weighted mean differences with accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Studies were pooled using a fixed-effect model. The primary outcomes included atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality and total hospital length-of-stay (LOS). Upon meta-analysis of 13 trials (n=1338 subjects), the use of NAC appeared to statistically significantly lower the odds of developing post-CTS AF by 36% (95%CI 2-58%) (n=6 studies). This corresponded to an 8% (1-15%) pooled risk difference and a number-needed-to-treat of 13. NAC did not appear to significantly alter any of the other meta-analysis endpoints. The exclusion of the study utilizing only oral NAC therapy and the study with lower internal validity did not affect the overall conclusions of our meta-analysis. Currently, the most compelling data for using NAC in CTS patients is in post-CTS AF prevention. However, additional, larger randomized controlled trials evaluating this and other postoperative complication endpoints are needed.

Pharmacologic Treatments for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Mixed-Treatment Comparison Meta-analysis

Study Objective. To assess the comparative efficacy of pharmacologic agents for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Effect of Biologic Agents on Non-PASI Outcomes in Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

IntroductionThe objective of this review was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis and Bayesian mixed treatment comparisons (MTC) evaluating the impact of biologics on non-Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) health outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.MethodsMEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from 1966 to May 2009. Citations were screened for randomized, controlled trials of biologics versus either placebo or each other in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and reported any of several outcomes. Traditional and Bayesian MTC meta-analyses were conducted for each endpoint using either a random- or fixed-effect model where appropriate.ResultsThirty-eight studies met eligibility criteria. All biologics showed significant improvement in achieving a good response on the static physician’s global assessment (PGA) versus placebo while, in the MTC, differences were noted between individual drugs. In achieving a good response on the dynamic PGA, all biologics showed significant improvements over placebo, while the MTC showed significant improvements with the anti-interleukins versus anti-T cells. Relative to placebo, antitumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents and anti-interleukins showed significant improvements in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Compared with placebo, the anti-TNF agents showed significant improvements in both 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) mental and physical component scores, while anti-T cell agents showed no improvements. The MTC showed no differences between any biologics for either the DLQI or SF-36.ConclusionIndividual biologics and classes showed consistent benefits across non-PASI health outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis while MTC meta-analyses suggested that some differences exist.

The effect of plant sterols or stanols on lipid parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis

We performed a meta-analysis of five randomized, placebo-controlled trials to characterize the impact of plant sterols/stanols on plasma lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes. Upon meta-analysis, plant sterols/stanols significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol, with a trend towards improvement in HDL. No beneficial effect on triglycerides was apparent.

Recombinant Human Growth Hormone in the Treatment of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

CONTEXT: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) improves growth in patients with growth hormone deficiency or idiopathic short stature. Its role in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To review the effectiveness of rhGH in the treatment of patients with CF. METHODS: Medline and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from the earliest date through April 2010. Randomized controlled trials, observational studies, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, or case reports were included if rhGH therapy was administered to patients with CF and data on prespecified harms, intermediate outcomes, or final health outcomes were reported. When applicable, end points were pooled by using a random-effects model. The overall body of evidence was graded for each outcome as insufficient, low, moderate, or high. RESULTS: Ten unique controlled trials (n = 312) and 8 observational studies (n = 58) were included. On quantitative synthesis of controlled trials, several markers of pulmonary function, anthropometrics, and bone mineralization were significantly improved versus control. Results of single-arm observational studies for the aforementioned outcomes were generally supportive of findings in clinical trials. There is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of rhGH on intravenous antibiotic use during therapy, pulmonary exacerbations, health-related quality-of-life, bone consequences, or total mortality, but moderate evidence suggests that rhGH therapy reduces the rate of hospitalization versus control. CONCLUSIONS: rhGH improved almost all intermediate measures of pulmonary function, height, and weight in patients with CF. Improvements in bone mineral content are also promising. However, with the exception of hospitalizations, the benefits on final health outcomes cannot be directly determined at this time.

Resolution of a Phytobezoar with Aldoph's Meat Tenderizer

A 58‐year‐old man went to his physician with complaints of midepigastric pain, flatulence, belching, and shortness of breath. During a physical examination, the patient was in no acute distress. The patient underwent an ultrasound examination, which revealed cholelithiasis, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which revealed chronic gallbladder disease, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which revealed gastritis, a hiatal hernia, and a phytobezoar. To treat the bezoar, the patient was given Adolphs Meat Tenderizer 1 teaspoonful in 8 oz of water before each meal for 7 days. This product contains papain, a proteolytic enzyme, that is thought to cleave protein linkages within bezoars. The patients symptoms resolved with no adverse events reported, and follow‐up endoscopy revealed resolution of the phytobezoar. Although a few other agents are used to treat phytobezoars, little clinical data exist on their safety and effectiveness. Adolphs Meat Tenderizer appears to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with a phytobezoar.

Feverfew for Migraine Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review

Feverfew has been studied for the treatment of migrane in several studies and the pharmacologic mechanisms are preliminarily understood. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and present the clinical findings and potential implications. The modality of data collection and reporting in the individual studies does not support a pooling of results, but does suggest benefit of feverfew in migraine prophylaxis for at least subsets of the population with the disorder. Pharmacologically, there is some potential for concern with long-term dosing given its cyclooxygenase-2 inhibiting effects and longer-term studies will be needed to ameliorate these concerns in coronary disease patients.

Probable enoxaparin-induced hepatotoxicity

PURPOSE A case of probable enoxaparin-induced hepatotoxicity is described. SUMMARY A 29-year-old woman sought treatment from a pulmonologist for a dry, hacking, constant cough not relieved by fast-acting inhalers or narcotic cough medications that had lasted for three weeks. Her primary care physician had earlier made a preliminary diagnosis of pertussis and prescribed a short course of azithromycin and corticosteroids, which did not help relieve the symptoms. Computed tomography angiography of her chest revealed multiple bilateral pulmonary emboli with a moderate clot burden, which resulted in her hospitalization. The pulmonary emboli were thought to be associated with her oral contraceptive, which was discontinued at hospital admission. Anticoagulant therapy was initiated with subcutaneous enoxaparin and oral warfarin. Beginning the second day of therapy, the patient complained of nausea and associated vomiting. Diagnostic procedures did not reveal any liver, kidney, splenic, or pancreatic abnormalities. The results of laboratory tests revealed elevated levels of hepatic enzymes, including alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Tests for hepatitis A, B, and C were negative. Enoxaparin therapy was discontinued, and the patient was maintained on oral warfarin. Clinical and laboratory signs of liver injury resolved over the next few days, with a return to baseline levels of AST and ALT levels over the subsequent months. According to the Naranjo et al. adverse-reaction probability scale, enoxaparin was the probable cause of hepatotoxicity in this patient. CONCLUSION A woman receiving enoxaparin every 12 hours developed signs and symptoms of hepatotoxicity after the second dose. The case was unusual in the rapidity and magnitude of hepatic enzyme elevation.

Intent to Update Systematic Reviews: Results of an Internet Survey

Background Updating a systematic review may be necessary when newer evidence is available. Several barriers to conducting updated systematic reviews have been hypothesized. Aims To conduct an Internet survey to identify the relationship between author and study characteristics and the intent to update a systematic review, to quantify this relationship, and to query authors about perceived barriers to updating. Methods Manual search of ACP Journal Club (January 2007-December 2008) for featured systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses identified participants. We collected participant demographics and questioned participants on intentions of updating and potential barriers. All variables showing univariate association (P < 0.1) were entered into a backward-stepwise multivariate model. Results Upon multivariate logistic regression, those who spend greater than 25% of time dedicated to systematic review were significantly more likely to update their review (adjusted odds ratio, 7.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-35.71). Conversely, those whose primary funding was from a government source were significantly less likely to conduct an update (adjusted odds ratio, 0.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.50). Conclusions Authors who spend more time on systematic reviews were more likely to update, whereas those with government funding were less likely to update their systematic reviews. Surveyed authors also identified several perceived barriers to updating. Future efforts may aim to reduce barriers and provide incentives to authors to improve updating practices.