The alkaloid berberine is a constituent of several medicinal herbs with centuries of use. Emerging research is documenting many effective clinical applications. It has been shown to improve blood sugar control, lower cholesterol, inhibit infectious microorganisms, decrease inflammation, ameliorate inflammatory bowel disease, lower blood pressure, facilitate weight loss, and even inhibit cancer cells. However, it is important to recognize that relying solely on berberine as a treatment because it is a natural molecule ignores the need to address causes of the diseases and dysfunctions the patient is suffering.

Thinking About Berberine.

Integrative Medicine

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors are standard care in patients with hypertension, heart failure or chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although we have studied the RAAS for decades, there are still circumstances that remain unclear. In this review, we describe the evolution of the RAAS and pose the question of whether this survival trait is still necessary to humankind in the present age. We elucidate the benefits on cardiovascular health and kidney disease of RAAS inhibition and present promising novel medications. Furthermore, we address why more studies are needed to establish a new standard of care away from generally prescribing ACEi or ARB toward an improved approach to combine drugs tailored to the needs of individual patients.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System: From History to Practice of a Secular Topic.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for both ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, affecting up to a third of individuals with cerebrovascular diseases. Beyond being a risk factor for stroke, diabetes and hyperglycaemia have a negative impact on outcomes after ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Hyperglycaemia during the acute ischaemic stroke phase is associated with a higher risk of haemorrhagic transformation and poor functional outcome, with evidence in favour of early intervention to limit and manage severe hyperglycaemia. Similarly, intensive glucose control nested in a broader bundle of care, including blood pressure, coagulation and temperature control, can provide substantial benefit for clinical outcomes after haemorrhagic stroke. As micro- and macrovascular complications are frequent in people with diabetes, cardiovascular prevention strategies also need to consider tailored treatment. In this regard, the broader availability of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists can allow tailored treatments, particularly for those with heart failure and chronic kidney disease as comorbidities. Here, we review the main concepts of hyperacute stroke management and CVD prevention among people with diabetes, capitalising on results from large studies and RCTs to inform clinicians on preferred treatments.

Prevention and treatment of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in people with diabetes mellitus: a focus on glucose control and comorbidities.

Diabetologia

Sj&#xf6;gren disease (SD) is a chronic, autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology with significant impact on quality of life. Although dryness (sicca) of the eyes and mouth are the classically described features, dryness of other mucosal surfaces and systemic manifestations are common. The key management aim should be to empower the individual to manage their condition-conserving, replacing and stimulating secretions; and preventing damage and suppressing systemic disease activity. This guideline builds on and widens the recommendations developed for the first guideline published in 2017. We have included advice on the management of children and adolescents where appropriate to provide a comprehensive guideline for UK-based rheumatology teams.

British Society for Rheumatology guideline on management of adult and juvenile onset Sjögren disease.

Rheumatology

Nowadays, it is largely accepted that albumin should not be used in hypoalbuminemia or for nutritional purpose. The most discussed indication of albumin at present is the resuscitation in shock states, especially distributive shocks such as septic shock. The main evidence-based indication is also liver disease. In this review, we provided updated evidence-based instruction for definite and potential indications of albumin administration in clinical practice, with appropriate dosing and duration.

Data collection was carried out until November 2023 by search of electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. GRADE system has been used to determine the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations for each albumin indication.

A total of 165 relevant studies were included in this review. Fluid replacement in plasmapheresis and liver diseases, including hepatorenal syndrome, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and large-volume paracentesis, have a moderate to high quality of evidence and a strong recommendation for administering albumin. Moreover, albumin is used as a second-line and adjunctive to crystalloids for fluid resuscitation in hypovolemic shock, sepsis and septic shock, severe burns, toxic epidermal necrolysis, intradialytic hypotension, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, major surgery, non-traumatic brain injury, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and severe and refractory edema with hypoalbuminemia has a low to moderate quality of evidence and weak recommendation to use. Also, in modest volume paracentesis, severe hyponatremia in cirrhosis has a low to moderate quality of evidence and a weak recommendation.

Albumin administration is most indicated in management of cirrhosis complications. Fluid resuscitation or treatment of severe and refractory edema, especially in patients with hypoalbuminemia and not responding to other treatments, is another rational use for albumin. Implementation of evidence-based guidelines in hospitals can be an effective measure to reduce inappropriate uses of albumin.

Albumin: a comprehensive review and practical guideline for clinical use.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Deaths from the majority of cancers are falling globally, but the incidence and mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in the United Kingdom and in other Western countries. HCC is a highly fatal cancer, often diagnosed late, with an incidence to mortality ratio that approaches 1. Despite there being a number of treatment options, including those associated with good medium to long-term survival, 5-year survival from HCC in the UK remains below 20%. Sex, ethnicity and deprivation are important demographics for the incidence of, and/or survival from, HCC. These clinical practice guidelines will provide evidence-based advice for the assessment and management of patients with HCC. The clinical and scientific data underpinning the recommendations we make are summarised in detail. Much of the content will have broad relevance, but the treatment algorithms are based on therapies that are available in the UK and have regulatory approval for use in the National Health Service.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults.

The proportion of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease in individuals experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) varies based on age and ACS subtype. In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) without cardiogenic shock, the prognostic benefit of complete revascularization has been demonstrated by several randomized trials and meta-analyses, leading to a strong guideline recommendation. However, similar data are lacking for ACS without ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS). Non-randomized data suggesting a benefit from complete revascularization in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) are prone to selection bias and should be interpreted with caution. A series of large randomized controlled trials have been initiated recently to address these open questions.

Revascularization Strategy in Myocardial Infarction with Multivessel Disease.

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency that requires timely pharmacological therapy to cease seizure activity. The treatment approach varies based on the time and the treatment stage of SE. Benzodiazepines are considered the first-line therapy during the emergent treatment phase of SE. Antiseizure medicines such as phenytoin, valproic acid, and levetiracetam are recommended during the urgent treatment phase. These drugs appear to have a similar safety and efficacy profile, and individualized therapy should be chosen based on patient characteristics. Midazolam, propofol, pentobarbital, and ketamine are continuous intravenous infusions of anesthetic medications utilized in the refractory SE (RSE) period. The most efficacious pharmacotherapeutic treatments for RSE and superrefractory status epilepticus are not clearly defined.

Thinking About Berberine.

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Thinking About Berberine.

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