Brief overview: Current evidence suggests vitamin D replacement may reduce risk for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) in people with deficiency or insufficiency, although the effects of supplementation on incidence and severity of ARTI in the general population remain unknown. Oral vitamin D supplemzentation taken at routine doses appears to be generally safe and well tolerated. Verdict: Current experimental evidence remains inconclusive regarding the effects of vitamin D supplementation in the general population for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI). There is also insufficient evidence to draw conclusions regarding the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the severity or duration of ARTI, nor on outcomes related to lung injury or hospitalization from ARTI. Based on this rapid review, sources of significant heterogeneity in published clinical trials include: differences study populations, inconsistent assessment of serum status at baseline, dosing variability, varying routes of administration, and/or inconsistent definitions of outcome measures. Experimental evidence and observations in large cohorts are generally consistent that vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L [<20 ng/mL]) and insufficiency (<75 nmol/L [<30 ng/mL]) of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD) concentration is associated with increased risk of ARTI, and supplementation for those with deficiency/insufficiency may lead to clinically meaningful reductions in the incidence of ARTI. In this rapid review, vitamin D was primarily administered as oral supplementation, and findings suggested significant differences in daily oral dosing compared to periodic bolus dosing. Based on the available experimental evidence, vitamin D supplementation appears to have a high margin of safety with very few adverse events reported in children or adults from a variety of dosing strategies. Future clinical trials on vitamin D should consider the sources of heterogeneity in the existing experimental research and design trials that account for baseline status, evaluate the potential for prevention and treatment in at risk populations, standardize dosing strategies, assess product quality, assess outcomes according to gold standard definitions/diagnostic methods, and delineate viral ARTI from other causes when possible. The available mechanistic evidence related to immunological requirements for adequate vitamin D, the availability of observational and experimental evidence suggestive of clinically meaningful benefits (especially in deficient/insufficient participants), and the high margin of safety, should make vitamin D a high priority for additional clinical research during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Resumen: El mejor entendimiento sobre la actividad global de la vitamina D, ha llevado a una intensa búsque da de sus implicancias en enfermedades no esqueléticas. En este artículo se presenta una revisión actualizada de la relación entre la vitamina D y la patología respiratoria pediátrica. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en PUBMED utilizando términos libres y MESH: vitamina D, enfermedades del sistema respiratorio, asma, bronquiolitis. Se seleccionó estudios en humanos menores de 18 años y animales, publicados en inglés y español hasta el 2017. Se encontraron 507 artículos, de los cuales se incluyeron 43. Evidencia indirecta apunta hacia un rol de la vitamina D y la maduración pulmonar fetal. En relación a la patología pulmonar pediátrica, los estudios son escasos y poco concluyentes. Nuevos meta - análisis, con evaluación individualizada de los participantes, muestran un importante rol protector de la suplementación en la prevención de exacerbaciones asmáticas severas e infecciones virales agudas. En bronquiolitis los resultados son contradictorios, sin relación clara entre niveles plasmáticos y severidad. No existe suficiente evidencia que evalué los beneficios en fibrosis quística y tuberculosis. Recientemente se ha propuesto una relación directa entre la severidad de los trastornos respiratorios del sueño y los niveles plasmáticos de vitamina D, aunque se desconoce los mecanismos exactos involucrados a esta asociación. La información actual permite suponer que la suplementación de vitamina D puede representar una estrategia costo - efectiva en la reducción de importantes causas de morbimortalidad infantil.
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder worldwide. The predominant symptom, pain, is usually treated with acetaminophen or oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, although they are associated with a significant risk of side effects. Topical capsaicin may represent an effective and safe alternative. The aim of this review is to examine the evidence for the efficacy and safety profile of topical capsaicin in the management of pain caused by osteoarthritis. Databases were searched for articles published between 2004 and 2016, in Portuguese, English or Spanish, using the search terms "capsaicin" and "osteoarthritis". When compared to placebo, it was found that topical capsaicin has a good safety profile and efficacy in reducing osteoarthritis pain of the hand, knee, hip or shoulder. However, the studies have significant limitations, the most important the difficulty of blinding. It is attributed to this review the strength of recommendation B.
La artrosis es la enfermedad articular crónica que presenta mayor prevalencia, en la cual el dolor es uno de los principales síntomas y el mayor determinante de la pérdida de funcionalidad. Se han planteado múltiples opciones terapéuticas, entre ellas la glucosamina, pero su real utilidad aún no ha sido claramente establecida. Utilizando la base de datos Epistemonikos, la cual es mantenida mediante búsquedas en múltiples bases de datos, identificamos 11 revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyen 35 estudios aleatorizados que responden la pregunta de este resumen. Extrajimos la información relevante, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos tablas de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. Concluimos que no está claro que la glucosamina disminuya el dolor o mejore la funcionalidad en la artrosis porque la certeza de la evidencia es muy baja.
ANTECEDENTES: El cáncer colorrectal es una enfermedad común ya menudo mortal. En la actualidad, las modificaciones que alteran la evolución de la enfermedad incluyen el reconocimiento precoz de los síntomas, detección de la población, así como la mejora de los tratamientos quirúrgicos y adyuvantes. Las estrategias preventivas se han limitado con poca evidencia de que los cambios de estilo de vida alteran significativamente el riesgo. Sin embargo, existe una conciencia cada vez mayor de un papel potencial para la quimioprevención en algunos grupos de pacientes. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo revisar la literatura asociada con la quimioprevención en el cáncer colorrectal.
Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica electrónica en MEDLINE y EMBASE se realizó en PubMed para estudios que detallan el uso de fármacos de quimioprevención en el cáncer de colon y de recto. La búsqueda se limitó a los ensayos clínicos en seres humanos adultos (> 16 años de edad) publicados en Inglés desde 1990.
RESULTADOS: La evidencia más fuerte es para los fármacos anti-inflamatorios no esteroideos frenar la progresión de pólipos, en particular, sulindac y la aspirina en pacientes con poliposis adenomatosa familiar y cáncer colorrectal hereditario sin poliposis, respectivamente. También hay evidencia creciente de que la continuación del uso de dosis bajas de aspirina reduce la incidencia a largo plazo de los cánceres colorrectales. Ciclooxigenasa 2 inhibidores también tienen un papel potencial toxicidad cardiaca, pero actualmente limitan su uso. Ácido fólico, las estatinas, antioxidantes, calcio y evidencia la falta de ácido 5-aminosalicílico para apoyar su uso en la actualidad.
Conclusiones: En la actualidad, no hay suficiente evidencia para apoyar la aplicación de un agente quimiopreventivo para el uso general. Sin embargo, parece que hay un papel para la aspirina en los subgrupos seleccionados.
La artrosis es la enfermedad articular crónica que presenta mayor prevalencia, en la cual el dolor es uno de los principales síntomas y el mayor determinante de la pérdida de funcionalidad. Se han planteado múltiples opciones terapéuticas, entre ellas el condroitín sulfato, pero su real utilidad aún no ha sido claramente demostrada. Para aclarar esta interrogante utilizamos la base de datos Epistemonikos, la cual es mantenida mediante búsquedas en múltiples fuentes de información. Identificamos 13 revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyen 50 estudios aleatorizados que responden la pregunta de este resumen. Extrajimos la información relevante, realizamos un metanálisis y preparamos una tabla de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. Concluimos que no está claro si el uso de condroitín sulfato produce una mejoría en el dolor o la funcionalidad en la artrosis porque la certeza de la evidencia es muy baja.
Síntesis amplia/ Revisión panorámica de revisiones sistemáticas
Numerous meta-analyses have been conducted aiming to compare hyaluronic acid (HA) and placebo in treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). Nevertheless, the conclusions of these meta-analyses are not in consistency. The purpose of the present study was to perform a systematic review of overlapping meta-analyses investigating the efficacy and safety of HA for Knee OA and to provide treatment recommendations through the best evidence. A systematic review was conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines. The meta-analyses and/or systematic reviews that compared HA and placebo for knee OA were identified. AMSTAR instrument was used to evaluate the methodological quality of individual study. The information of heterogeneity within each variable was fetched for the individual studies. Which meta-analyses can provide best evidence was determined according to Jadad algorithm. Twelve meta-analyses met the eligibility requirements. The Jadad decision making tool suggests that the highest quality review should be selected. As a result, a high-quality Cochrane review was included. The present systematic review of overlapping meta-analyses demonstrates that HA is an effective intervention in treating knee OA without increased risk of adverse events. Therefore, the present conclusions may help decision makers interpret and choose among discordant meta-analyses.
Over the past decade, a large body of observational evidence has suggested an association between lower vitamin D status (25-hydroxyvitamin D) and multiple acute and chronic disorders, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, depression and respiratory tract infections. This evidence has fostered the hypothesis that increasing vitamin D intake may treat and prevent such disorders. Our objective was to perform a critical analysis of the highest-level evidence for ten common beliefs regarding vitamin D for the prevention of falls, fractures and respiratory tract infections, the reduction of cancer incidence/mortality and overall mortality, and the prevention or treatment of depression/mental well-being, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, as well as maximum dosing and regular testing. We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and PubMed (up to August 2014) for randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews/meta-analyses based on those studies. All searches were performed, all evidence reviewed and each section written by at least two authors. The evidence shows that vitamin D supplementation provides some benefit in fracture prevention (likely ∼10-15 % relative reduction), particularly at a dose ≥800 IU and with calcium; a likely benefit in the rate of falls, though it is less clear whether the number of fallers changes; and a possible small (∼5 %) relative reduction in mortality. Evidence does not support the use of vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of cancer, respiratory infections or rheumatoid arthritis. Similarly, evidence does not support vitamin D supplementation for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis or for improving depression/mental well-being. Regular testing of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is generally not required, and mega-doses (≥300,000 IU) appear to increase harms. Much of the evidence is at high risk of bias, with multiple flaws, including analyses of secondary endpoints, small and underpowered studies, inconsistent results and numerous other issues. Therefore, enthusiasm for a vitamin D panacea should be tempered.
Síntesis amplia/ Revisión panorámica de revisiones sistemáticas
BACKGROUND: Falls are common events in older people, which cause considerable morbidity and mortality. Non-pharmacological interventions are an important approach to prevent falls. There are a large number of systematic reviews of non-pharmacological interventions, whose evidence needs to be synthesized in order to facilitate evidence-based clinical decision making. OBJECTIVES: To systematically examine reviews and meta-analyses that evaluated non-pharmacological interventions to prevent falls in older adults in the community, care facilities and hospitals. METHODS: We searched the electronic databases Pubmed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PEDRO and TRIP from January 2009 to March 2015, for systematic reviews that included at least one comparative study, evaluating any non-pharmacological intervention, to prevent falls amongst older adults. The quality of the reviews was assessed using AMSTAR and ProFaNE taxonomy was used to organize the interventions. RESULTS: Fifty-nine systematic reviews were identified which consisted of single, multiple and multifactorial non-pharmacological interventions to prevent falls in older people. The most frequent ProFaNE defined interventions were exercises either alone or combined with other interventions, followed by environment/assistive technology interventions comprising environmental modifications, assistive and protective aids, staff education and vision assessment/correction. Knowledge was the third principle class of interventions as patient education. Exercise and multifactorial interventions were the most effective treatments to reduce falls in older adults, although not all types of exercise were equally effective in all subjects and in all settings. Effective exercise programs combined balance and strength training. Reviews with a higher AMSTAR score were more likely to contain more primary studies, to be updated and to perform meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The aim of this overview of reviews of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent falls in older people in different settings, is to support clinicians and other healthcare workers with clinical decision-making by providing a comprehensive perspective of findings.
La artrosis de rodilla es una enfermedad crónica, invalidante, de evolución progresiva e irreversible. Los corticoides intraarticulares han sido comúnmente utilizados con el fin de disminuir sus síntomas y retrasar la resolución quirúrgica. Sin embargo, hasta el día de hoy, existe debate sobre su eficacia y seguridad. Utilizando la base de datos Epistemonikos, la cual es mantenida mediante búsquedas en 30 bases de datos, se identificaron 12 revisiones sistemáticas que en conjunto incluyen 41 estudios que contestan la pregunta de interés, entre los cuales se cuentan 40 estudios aleatorizados. Realizamos un metanálisis y tablas de resumen de los resultados utilizando el método GRADE. Concluimos que los corticoides intraarticulares probablemente llevan a una leve disminución del dolor a corto plazo, hacen poca o ninguna diferencia a mediano plazo y podrían no tener ningún efecto a largo plazo.
Brief overview: Current evidence suggests vitamin D replacement may reduce risk for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) in people with deficiency or insufficiency, although the effects of supplementation on incidence and severity of ARTI in the general population remain unknown. Oral vitamin D supplemzentation taken at routine doses appears to be generally safe and well tolerated. Verdict: Current experimental evidence remains inconclusive regarding the effects of vitamin D supplementation in the general population for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI). There is also insufficient evidence to draw conclusions regarding the impact of vitamin D supplementation on the severity or duration of ARTI, nor on outcomes related to lung injury or hospitalization from ARTI. Based on this rapid review, sources of significant heterogeneity in published clinical trials include: differences study populations, inconsistent assessment of serum status at baseline, dosing variability, varying routes of administration, and/or inconsistent definitions of outcome measures. Experimental evidence and observations in large cohorts are generally consistent that vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L [<20 ng/mL]) and insufficiency (<75 nmol/L [<30 ng/mL]) of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD) concentration is associated with increased risk of ARTI, and supplementation for those with deficiency/insufficiency may lead to clinically meaningful reductions in the incidence of ARTI. In this rapid review, vitamin D was primarily administered as oral supplementation, and findings suggested significant differences in daily oral dosing compared to periodic bolus dosing. Based on the available experimental evidence, vitamin D supplementation appears to have a high margin of safety with very few adverse events reported in children or adults from a variety of dosing strategies. Future clinical trials on vitamin D should consider the sources of heterogeneity in the existing experimental research and design trials that account for baseline status, evaluate the potential for prevention and treatment in at risk populations, standardize dosing strategies, assess product quality, assess outcomes according to gold standard definitions/diagnostic methods, and delineate viral ARTI from other causes when possible. The available mechanistic evidence related to immunological requirements for adequate vitamin D, the availability of observational and experimental evidence suggestive of clinically meaningful benefits (especially in deficient/insufficient participants), and the high margin of safety, should make vitamin D a high priority for additional clinical research during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
