Comparative effectiveness of probiotic strains for the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The current evidence on the use of probiotics in treating atopic dermatitis is inconclusive. This study determined the comparative effectiveness of the different types of probiotic strains in treating pediatric atopic dermatitis. METHODOLOGY: Systematic and manual search for all randomized controlled trials available from inception until January 31, 2020, was done. Two independent authors conducted the search, screening, appraisal, and data abstraction. Network meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14 software. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies involving 28 different probiotic strains were included. The top three ranked probiotic strains in terms of efficacy are Mix1 (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis CECT 8145, Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347, and Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104); Lactobacillus casei DN-114001; and Mix6 (Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus salivarius). Compared with placebo, Mix1 reduces atopic dermatitis symptoms with high certainty evidence (SMD -1.94, 95% CI -2.65 to -1.24; 47 participants). Mix6 compared with placebo probably reduces atopic dermatitis symptoms based on moderate certainty evidence (SMD -0.85, 95% CI -1.50 to -0.20; 40 participants). Lactobacillus casei DN-114001 compared with placebo may reduce atopic dermatitis symptoms based on low certainty evidence (SMD -1.35, 95% CI -2.04 to -0.65). In terms of safety, the highest ranked strain is Lactobacillus fermentum VRI-003, while the lowest ranked strain is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. CONCLUSION: Certain probiotic preparations show benefit in reducing allergic symptoms in pediatric atopic dermatitis.

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a disease of great concern. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but there is still a high recurrence rate after resection. OBJECTIVES: To determine the benefits and harms of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies compared to surgery alone or surgery and placebo/supportive therapy after curative resection for operable hepatocellular carcinoma. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded, Chinese Biomedical Database, and US National Cancer Institute's Physician's Data Query Trials Database until 2005. References of the identified trials were also searched for identifying further trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials that compared hepatocellular carcinoma patients who were given and not given neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy as a supplement to curative liver resection. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were extracted independently by two authors and discrepancies resolved by consensus. The survival and disease-free survival curves were compared using their one, two, three, four, and five-year survival rates, median survival times, and the result of the significance tests (P-values). MAIN RESULTS: A total of 12 randomised trials were identified, totaling 843 patients. The size of the randomised clinical trials ranged from 30 to 155 patients. Both preoperative (neoadjuvant) and postoperative (adjuvant), systemic and locoregional (+/- embolisation), chemo- and immunotherapy interventions were tested. Treatment regimens and patients selected were not comparable, so no pooling was done. Only one regimen using preoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation with doxorubicin was similar in two trials. Four of the twelve trials reported survival benefit at five years when given adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy. Disease-free survival was reported in nine trials, and the estimated hazard ratios show that disease-free survival was significant in two trials at five years. These two trials had not shown a survival advantage, but the recurrence was significantly lower in patients given adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy. The highest toxicity rate was in a trial using oral 1-hexylcarbamoyl 5-fluorouracil which resulted in 12 out of 38 patients being withdrawn from the trial because of adverse events. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no clear evidence for efficacy of any of the adjuvant and neo-adjuvant protocols reviewed, but there is some evidence to suggest that adjuvant therapy may be beneficial offering prolonged disease-free survival. In order to detect a realistic treatment advantage, larger trials with lower risk of systematic error will have to be conducted.

Interventions for the management of oral submucous fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic disease of the oral cavity which is more commonly found in patients in the Asian subcontinent and the Far East. It is characterised by the progressive build up of constricting bands of collagen in the cheeks and adjacent structures of the mouth which can severely restrict mouth opening and tongue movement and cause problems with speech and swallowing. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of interventions for the management of pain and restricted jaw opening or movement occurring as a result of oral submucous fibrosis. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register to July 2008; CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 2); MEDLINE (from 1950 to July 2008); EMBASE (from 1980 to July 2008) and IndMED on 18th November 2007. There were no language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials comparing surgical interventions, systemic or topical medicines or other interventions to manage the symptoms of oral submucous fibrosis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted trial data. Disagreements were resolved by consultation with a third author. Attempts were made to contact study authors where necessary for clarification and for additional information. MAIN RESULTS: Two trials, involving 87 participants, evaluated lycopene in conjunction with intralesional injections of a steroid, and pentoxifylline in combination with mouth stretching exercises and heat. Only two of the primary but none of the secondary outcomes of this review were considered in these trials and provided a limited amount of unreliable data. The data in one trial were based on inadequately defined evaluations of outcomes, and in the other trial are likely to be skewed due to a substantial number of withdrawals and therefore were not entered into the RevMan analyses. There were no reports of toxicity to the interventions but some side effects, which were mostly gastric irritation to pentoxifylline, were noted. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The lack of reliable evidence for the effectiveness of any specific interventions for the management of oral submucous fibrosis is illustrated by the paucity, and poor methodological quality, of trials retrieved for this review.