Systematic review and Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Tangmaikang Granules in treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy / 中国中药杂志

This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of Tangmaikang Granules in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN). PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP were retrieved for randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Tangmaikang Granules in the treatment of DPN. Cochrane handbook 5.3 was used to evaluate the quality of the inclu-ded studies, and RevMan 5.4.1 and Stata 15.1 were employed to analyze data and test heterogeneity. GRADEpro was used to assess the quality of each outcome index. Clinical effective rate was the major outcome index, while the improvement in numbness of hands and feet, pain of extremities, sluggishness or regression of sensation, sensory conduction velocity(SCV) and motor conduction velocity(MCV) of median nerve and peroneal nerve, fasting blood glucose(FBG), 2 h postprandial blood glucose(2hPBG), and glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c) and incidence of adverse reactions were considered as the minor outcome indexes. A total of 19 RCTs with 1 602 patients were eventually included. The Meta-analysis showed that the improvements in clinical effective rate(RR=1.45, 95%CI[1.32, 1.61], P<0.000 01), pain of extremities(RR=1.70, 95%CI[1.27, 2.27], P=0.000 3), MCV of peroneal nerve(MD=4.08, 95%CI[3.29, 4.86], P<0.000 01) and HbA1c(SMD=-1.23, 95%CI[-1.80,-0.66], P<0.000 1) of Tangmaikang Granules alone or in combination in the experimental group were better than those in the control group. Compared with the conditions in the control group, numbness of hands and feet(RR=1.42, 95%CI[1.12, 1.80], P=0.003), sluggishness or regression of sensation(RR=1.41, 95%CI[1.05, 1.91], P=0.02), SCV of median nerve(MD=4.59, 95%CI[0.92, 8.27], P=0.01), SCV of peroneal nerve(MD=4.68, 95%CI[3.76, 5.60], P<0.000 01) and MCV of median nerve(MD=5.58, 95%CI[4.05, 7.11], P<0.000 01) of Tangmaikang Granules in combination in the experimental group were improved by subgroup analysis. The levels of FBG(MD=-0.57, 95%CI[-1.27, 0.12], P=0.11) and 2hPBG(MD=-0.69, 95%CI[-1.70, 0.33], P=0.18) in the experimental group were similar to those in the control group after treatment with Tangmaikang Granules alone or in combination. There was no difference in the safety(RR=1.28, 95%CI[0.58, 2.82], P=0.54) of Tangmaikang Granules in the treatment of DPN between the experimental group and the control group. Tangmaikang Granules could significantly increase clinical effective rate and nerve conduction velocity as well as improve symptoms of peripheral nerve and blood glucose level, and no serious adverse reactions were identified yet. Further validation was needed in future in large-sample, multicenter, high-quality RCTs.

Trigeminal sensory neuropathy and facial contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal sensory neuropathy (TSN) describes a heterogeneous group of disorders manifesting as facial numbness. OBJECTIVE: We report the case of a patient who had TSN associated with contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp. METHOD/RESULTS: A 21-year-old female patient developed left hemifacial contact dermatitis after exposure to the anthurium plant. The patient had paresthesias and pain in the V2 and V3 divisions of the left trigeminal nerve. Eight days after its onset the dermatitis resolved, but numbness developed in the V2 and V3 divisions of the left trigeminal nerve. Cranial CT scan and MRI, as well as CSF and extensive work-up exams, were normal. After one month the symptoms disappeared completely. CONCLUSION: Anthurium sp, an indoor ornamental plant that contains calcium oxalate crystals, and can causes contact dermatitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report associating TSN with contact dermatitis due to Anthurium sp.

INTRODUÇÃO: A neuropatia trigeminal sensitiva (NTS) representa um grupo heterogêneo de doenças, cuja manifestação clínica é a presença de dormência na região facial. OBJETIVO: Relatamos o caso de paciente que apresenta NTS associada com dermatite de contato (DC) devido à planta Anthurium sp. MÉTODO/RESULTADOS: Uma paciente com 21 anos desenvolveu DC na região hemi-facial esquerda, após exposição à planta Anthurium sp. Após a resolução do quadro de dermatite, a referida paciente apresentou dormência e parestesias no território do segundo e terceiro ramos do nervo trigêmeo esquerdo. Um mês após o início do quadro houve resolução completa dos sintomas. CONCLUSÃO: O Anthurium é uma planta ornamental que contém cristas de oxalato de cálcio, que podem causar DC. Para o nosso conhecimento este é o primeiro relato associando NTS e dermatite de contato devido à exposição ao Anthurium sp.

[Efficacy of lamotrigin in treatment of avoidance / numbing in post-traumatic stress disorders]

Post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] is a chronic illness which is difficult to treat; yet, it is a common disorder which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The hypothesis that exposure to traumatic events may sensitize or kindle limbic nuclei has led to efforts to treat PTSD with anticonvulsants based on the kindling hypothesis. This double-blind clinical trial assesses clinical response to lamotrigine as a potential treatment. Thirty patients with PTSD were randomly assigned in a double-blind design. They were treated for 3 months with lamotrigine [N=1 5, 150-500 mg/day] as odd-on or placebo [N=15]. The patients were measured in the first visit and at the end of 3 months by clinician administration. PTSD scales [CAPS] paired t-test, and Friedman and Will Coxon were used for data analysis. The mean score of frequency of PTSD criteria in Lamotrigine group in the first visit was 10.1 +/- 2.2 and in placebo group was 12.75 +/- 2.24. The mean score of these criteria in lamotrigin group after treatment period was 9 +/- 2.5 and for placebo group was 12.45 +/- 2.7. The analysis of these sores showed a significant difference in Lamotrigine group and a non significant difference in placebo group. The mean score of Intensity of PTSD criteria in Lamotrigine group in first visit was 9.4 +/- 1 .2 and in placebo group was 9.1 +/- 1-9. The mean score of these criteria in Lamotrigine group after treatment group was 8.4 +/- 2 and for placebo group was 9.1 +/- 2. The analysis of these scores showed a significant difference in lamotrigine group and a non-significant difference in placebo group. In placebo group, the analysis of mean sores of all intensity and frequency of criteria before and after taking placebo showed a non-significant difference. In Lamotrigine group, the analysis of mean scores of intensity and frequency of criteria such as avoidance of thoughts or feelings, avoidances of activities, place, people, inability to recall important aspect of trauma and diminished interest in activities before and after taking lamotrigine showed a significant difference and in other criteria showed a non-significant difference. Comparison of mean of decline in CAPS scores before and after treatment in placebo and lamotrigine group showed a significant difference in the four symptoms in lamotrigine group. Results of the study suggest that lamotrigine is a safe, well tolerated and significant effective treatment for avoidance numbing of PTSD