Efficacy and Safety of Gabapentin in the Treatment of Chronic Cough: A Systematic Review / 결핵및호흡기질환

Despite recent clinical guidelines, the optimal therapeutic strategy for the management of refractory chronic cough is still a challenge. The present systematic review was designed to assess the evidence for efficacy and safety of gabapentin in the treatment of chronic cough. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, and publications cited in bibliographies was performed. Articles were searched by two reviewers with a priori criteria for study selection. Seven relevant articles were identified, including two randomized controlled trials, one prospective case-series designed with consecutive patients, one retrospective case series of consecutive patients, one retrospective case series with unknown consecutive status, and two case reports comprising six and two patients, respectively. Improvements were detected in cough-specific quality of life (Leicester Cough Questionnaire score) and cough severity (visual analogue scale score) following gabapentin treatment in randomized controlled trials. The results of prospective case-series showed that the rate of overall improvement of cough and sensory neuropathy with gabapentin was 68%. Gabapentin treatment of patients with chronic cough showed superior efficacy and a good safety record compared with placebo or standard medications. Additional randomized and controlled trials are needed.

Effect of dorsal rhizotomy on cartilage of degenerative changes in knee joint of rats / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To investigate the changing characteristics and rules of the different period of articular cartilage in rats after dorsal rhizotomy, and to verify the partial sensory disturbance can cause articular cartilage injury. Methods Thirty-three ten-month-old SPF male Wistar rats were randomly divided into experimental group ( n=18 ) and control group ( n=15) .The rats in the experimental group were sectioned the L3、L4 dorsal roots in the right.The rats in the control group were only incised the skin and paravertebral muscles.To observe the behavior changes in rats.At 2, 6 and 10 weeks, the specimens of the right hind lower end of femur were drawn out to make paraffin sections, then HE staining and Safranin O/Fast Green staining.The changes and characteristics of the morphology of the articular cartilage was observed.Results With the prolonging of period, the right hind limb of the experimental rats through the change process of transient paralysis, coordination of movement disorders and active movement.In the experimental group, the patellar surface of right hind femur gradually became shallow and wide.The articular cartilage underwent rough, cells disorganizated, cells decreased, and duplicated drifted and interrupted tide line. The ratios of ACC/TAC of the experimental group were gradually high(t=5.25~8.13,P <0.05).Conclusion Dorsal rhizotomy can cause injury and degenerative changes in articular cartilage.