ABSTRACT
Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that combining Chinese herbal injections (CHIs) with oxaliplatin plus tegafur (SOX) chemotherapy regimens improves clinical effectiveness and reduces adverse reactions in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC). These RCTs highlight the potential applications of CHIs and their impact on AGC patient prognosis. However, there is insufficient comparative evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of different CHIs when combined with SOX. Therefore, we performed a network meta-analysis to rank the clinical effectiveness and safety of different CHIs when combined with SOX chemotherapy regimens. This study aimed to provide evidence for selecting appropriate CHIs in the treatment of patients with AGC. Methods: We searched eight databases from their inception until March 2023. Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Curve (SUCRA) probability values were used to rank the treatment measures, and the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) software assessed the grading of evidence. Results: A total of 51 RCTs involving 3,703 AGC patients were identified. Huachansu injections + SOX demonstrated the highest clinical effectiveness (SUCRA: 78.17%), significantly reducing the incidence of leukopenia (93.35%), thrombocytopenia (80.19%), and nausea and vomiting (95.15%). Shenfu injections + SOX improved Karnofsky's Performance Status (75.59%) and showed a significant reduction in peripheral neurotoxicity incidence (88.26%). Aidi injections + SOX were most effective in reducing the incidence of liver function damage (75.16%). According to CINeMA, most confidence rating results were classified as "low". Conclusion: The combination of CHIs and SOX shows promising effects in the treatment of AGC compared to SOX alone. Huachansu and Shenfu injections offer the greatest overall advantage among the CHIs, while Aidi injections are optimal for reducing the incidence of liver damage. However, further rigorous RCTs with larger sample sizes and additional pharmacological studies are necessary to reinforce these findings.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many people with cough variant asthma use Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine-Suhuang anti-tussive capsule to help reduce symptoms. However there is no systematic reviews had promising its efficacy and safety for cough variant asthma. METHODS: Four English databases (PubMed, Web of science, EMBASE, and Springer Cochrane Library) and 4 Chinese databases (Wanfang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database) were researched for the randomized controlled trials of Suhuang anti-tussive capsule for cough variant asthma. The search was limited to human studies, using the search keywords or free-text terms "cough," "cough variant asthma," "Suhuang Zhike capsul,""Suhuang anti-tussive capsul," and "randomized clinical trials." Two reviewers individually extracted data from the included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data will be synthesized by either the fixed-effects or random-effects model according to a heterogeneity test. The primary outcomes include the frequency of asthma exacerbations during follow-up, asthmatic symptoms by validated instruments (including symptom scores, Likert scale, visual analogue scale). Lung function, serum immunoglobulin E, blood eosinophil count, phlegm eosinophil count, tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-1b, and adverse effects (numbers of participants experiencing each adverse events) will be assessed as the secondary outcome. Meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan5.3.5 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: This study will provide high-quality synthesis based on current evidence of Suhuang anti-tussive capsule treatment for cough variant asthma. CONCLUSION: This analysis will provide updated evidence for whether Suhuang anti-tussive capsule is an effective and safe intervention for cough variant asthma. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42019139695.
