Severe and critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were usually with underlying diseases, which led to the problems of complicated drug use, potential drug-drug interactions and medication errors in special patients. Based on ( 6), and -19: , we summarized the experience in the use of antiviral drugs, corticosteroids, vascular active drugs, antibacterial, probiotics, nutrition support schemes in severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients. It is also suggested to focus on medication management for evaluation of drug efficacy and duration of treatment, prevention and treatment of adverse drug reactions, identification of potential drug-drug interactions, individualized medication monitoring based on biosafety protection, and medication administration for special patients.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Betacoronavirus ; isolation & purification ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Critical Illness ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Nutritional Support ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Probiotics ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical symptoms, lung function and airway inflammation phenotype characteristics of asthmatic patients who are sensitive to cold stimulation. METHODS: Eighty patients with newly diagnosed bronchial asthma or with mild to moderate acute exacerbation of previously diagnosed bronchial asthma but without regular treatment were selected. According to whether cold air stimulation could induce respiratory symptoms such as cough and wheeze, the patients were divided into cold-insensitive group (45 cases) and cold-sensitive group (35 cases). All the patients were treated with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), long-acting β2 receptor agonist (LABA; salmeterol xinafoate and fluticasone propionate powder for inhalation, 50 μg/250 μg, twice daily) and montelukast sodium tablets (10 mg, once daily); short-acting β2 receptor agonist (SABA) and/or systemic glucocorticoid (prednisone acetate tablets, 10 mg, once daily; or injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate, 40 mg) were given if necessary. Asthma Control Test (ACT) score before treatment and at 3 months of treatment was used to assess the clinical symptoms such as cough and wheeze; spirometry was performed to determine lung function impairment and recovery. Blood and induced sputum cell counts were examined to determine the characteristics of airway inflammation. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable for age, gender, BMI, proportion of smokers and allergic rhinitis before treatment. The cold-sensitive patients experienced significantly more frequent acute exacerbations than the cold-insensitive patient within 1 year before the visit ( < 0.05), but the use of SABA and glucocorticoid for symptom control during the treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups ( > 0.05). The ACT scores of the cold-sensitive group were significantly lower than those of the cold-insensitive group both before and after the treatment ( < 0.01). Compared with the cold-insensitive patients, the cold-sensitive patients had more obvious impairment of FEV1/FVC% and FEV1%pred before treatment ( < 0.01), and also showed poorer recovery after treatment ( < 0.05). The percentages of eosinophils in blood and induced sputum samples did not differ significantly between the two groups either before and after the treatment, but the percentage of neutrophils was significantly higher in the cold-sensitive group ( < 0.01). In the induced sputum samples collected before treatment, the cell populations consisted mainly of eosinophilic subtype (60%) and neutrophilic subtype (20%) in the cold-insensitive group; in the cold-sensitive patients, the sputum neutrophilic subtype cells increased significantly to 42.86% (=0.03) and the eosinophilic subtype cells were lowered to 31.43% (=0.01). CONCLUSIONS The cold-sensitive asthmatic patients experience frequent recurrent and/or aggravated symptoms and have obvious lung function impairment. Different from that in patients with classic asthma, the airway inflammatory phenotype in these patients is characterized by the domination by neutrophilic subtype.
Administration, Inhalation ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Cold Temperature ; adverse effects ; Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes ; physiopathology ; Disease Progression ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Recurrence ; Sputum ; cytology

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore the effect of corticosteroids on atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for published articles describing the effect of corticosteroids in preventing AF recurrence after catheter ablation. Data on study and patient were extracted. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by use of a random-effect model, and P values of <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies involving 846 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Within one month of catheter ablation, corticosteroid use was associated with a declined risk of recurrence of AF in RCT (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.85, P=0.005), but without significant effect in cohort studies (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.30, P=0.94). After three months of catheter ablation, corticosteroids did not have a significant effect in the prevention of late recurrence of AF in either RCT (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.59, P=0.49) or cohort studies (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.31, P=0.78). CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis suggested that periprocedural administration of corticosteroids of catheter ablation was associated with reduction of early but not late recurrence of AF.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy* ; Catheter Ablation/adverse effects* ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on semen parameters in male infertility patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

METHODSA total of 80 male infertility patients with varicocele were recruited from April 2011 to February 2012. The subjects were then divided into the following four groups: non-varicocelectomy (V)+placebo (P) group, V+P group, non-V+KRG group (1.5-g KRG daily), and V+KGR group (1.5-g KRG daily). Semen analysis was performed and hormonal levels were measured in each treatment arm after 12 weeks.

RESULTSAll groups but not the non-V+P group, showed significant improvements in sperm concentrations, motility, morphology, and viability at the end of the study. However, there were no significant differences in serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone among groups. The incidence of adverse events was low, and all events were assumed to be unrelated to the treatments administered.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough the exact mechanism by which KRG improves spermatogenesis remains unclear, KRG may be a useful agent for the treatment of male infertility. Nevertheless, additional studies to evaluate the optimal dose and duration of treatment are needed.

Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Male ; Panax ; chemistry ; Placebos ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Semen ; drug effects ; metabolism

Herbal medicines (HMs) are often used in combination with Western medicines (WMs) to improve therapeutic efficacies of orthodox medicines. This review discussed the current status of combination treatment with HMs and WMs in clinical practices. The influence of HMs on bioavailability of WMs was also discussed from the pharmacokinetic point of view. In addition, benefits and considerations of combination treatment were discussed using data obtained from clinical trials and randomized controlled trials of HMs treatment in skin diseases.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; pharmacokinetics ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

Acne Vulgaris ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Administration, Topical ; Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Doxycycline ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Isotretinoin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Thorax

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of letrozole for delaying bone maturation and increasing predicted adult height in boys with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) who have a bone age above 13 years and a short stature, and its adverse effects.

METHODSTwenty ICPP boys with a bone age above 13 years and a short stature were randomly divided into letrozole treatment (n=10) and control groups (n=10). The letrozole treatment group received oral letrozole [2.5 mg/(m(2)·d), Qd] for 6 months, while the control group received no treatment and was observed periodically. Bone age, growth rate, height standard deviation (SD) score, predicted adult height SD score, sexual maturity, and levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and androstenedione (ASD) were measured. The letrozole-related adverse reactions were evaluated.

RESULTSAfter 6 months of treatment, both groups had a significantly increased bone age, but the letrozole group had a significantly slowed increase in bone age compared with the control group (13.82 ± 0.23 years vs 14.47 ± 0.30 years; P<0.05); compared with the control group, the letrozole group had a significantly increased predicted adult height SD score (-1.69 ± 0.26 vs -1.91 ± 0.35; P<0.05) and a significantly increased T level (4.9 ± 0.9 nmol/L vs 4.4 ± 0.8 nmol/L; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in testicular volume between the two groups. The treatment led to no significant changes in growth rate, Tanner stage, and levels of FSH, LH, P, E2 and ASD in the two groups, and there was no significant difference in these indices between the two groups. No adverse reactions were observed during letrozole treatment.

CONCLUSIONSLetrozole delays bone maturation and increases predicted adult height in ICPP boys with a bone age above 13 years and a short stature, and it causes no obvious adverse reactions.

Adolescent ; Aromatase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Body Height ; drug effects ; Bone Development ; drug effects ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Nitriles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Puberty, Precocious ; blood ; drug therapy ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology ; Triazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDAutoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an uncommon complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) which has only been reported in a few cases. We here aimed to explore its mechanism.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 296 patients who underwent allo-HSCT in our center from July 2010 to July 2012. Clinical manifestations were carefully reviewed and the response to currently available treatment approaches were evaluated. The survival and risk factors of AIHA patients after allo-HSCT were further analyzed.

RESULTSTwelve patients were diagnosed with AIHA at a median time of 100 days (15-720 days) after allo-HSCT. The incidence of AIHA after allo-HSCT was 4.1%. IgG antibody were detected in ten patients and IgM antibody in two patients. The two cold antibody AIHA patients had a better response to steroid corticoid only treatment and the ten warm antibody AIHA patients responded to corticosteroid treatment and adjustment of immunosuppressant therapy. Rituximab was shown to be effective for AIHA patients who failed conventional therapy. Survival analysis showed that the combination of AIHA in allo-HSCT patients hinted at poor survival. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatch seemed to increase the risk of developing AIHA.

CONCLUSIONSPatients who develop AIHA after allo-HSCT have poor survival compared to non-AIHA patients. Possible risk factors of AIHA are CMV infection, GVHD, and HLA mismatch. Rituximab is likely to be the effective treatment choice for the refractory patients.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Transplantation, Homologous ; adverse effects ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is an often-fatal complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). We here report the clinical features of EPS in Korean PD patients from a single university center. METHODS: The data were collected retrospectively from 606 PD patients at Kyungpook National University Hospital, between August 2001 and August 2011. The diagnosis of EPS was based on clinical signs and symptoms, and confirmed by radiological findings. RESULTS: Eight patients (1.3%, four males) were diagnosed with EPS. The mean age of the patients was 48.5 years (range, 33 to 65). The mean duration of PD was 111.8 months (range, 23 to 186). All patients except for one had three or more episodes of peritonitis. Seven patients were diagnosed with EPS after stopping PD, and only one stayed on PD after initial diagnosis and treatment. Total parenteral nutrition and corticosteroids, in addition to tamoxifen therapy, were used to treat most of the patients, and one patient underwent surgery (adhesiolysis). The overall mortality rate was 50%. CONCLUSIONS: EPS is a serious, life-threatening complication in patients on long-term PD. To reduce the incidence and mortality rate of EPS, careful monitoring and early diagnosis is needed.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; *Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Peritoneal Dialysis/*adverse effects/mortality ; *Peritoneal Fibrosis/diagnosis/etiology/mortality/therapy ; *Peritonitis/diagnosis/etiology/mortality/therapy ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Tamoxifen/therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

The risk of osteoporosis or osteopenia is known to increase after childhood cancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patterns of bone mineral density (BMD) and to identify factors related to the decreased BMD in childhood cancer survivors. We studied 78 patients (34 boys, 44 girls) treated for childhood cancer. Twenty (25.7%) patients had lumbar BMD (LBMD) standard deviation score (SDS) lower than -2. Nineteen (24.4%) patients had femur neck BMD (FNBMD) SDS lower than -2. The patients treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation had lower LBMD SDS (-1.17 +/- 1.39 vs -0.43 +/- 1.33, P = 0.025). The risk of having LBMD SDS < -2 was higher in the patients treated with glucocorticoid (GC) for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (36.6% vs 13.5%; odds ratio [OR], 3.7; P = 0.020). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, longer duration of GC treatment for GVHD (OR, 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.20) and lower body mass index (BMI) SDS (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.95) were associated with decreased LBMD SDS. These findings suggest that prolonged GC use and reduction in BMI are risk factors for decreased BMD in childhood cancer survivors. Anticipatory follow-up and appropriate treatment are necessary, especially for the patients with risk factors.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density/*drug effects ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic/*chemically induced ; Child ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/*adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Graft vs Host Disease/drug therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects ; Hormones/blood ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology ; Male ; Osteoporosis/*chemically induced ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/pathology ; Risk Factors ; Survivors