Oral Huangqi Formulae for Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral Huangqi formulae for the treatment of stable COPD. Methods. The major databases were searched until September 2010 and supplemented with a manual search. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oral Huangqi formulae that reported on lung function, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, symptom improvement and/or frequency of exacerbations were extracted by two reviewers. The Cochrane tool was used for the assessment of risk of bias in the included trials. Data were analyzed with RevMan 5.1.2 software. Results. 25 RCTs (1,661 participants) were included. Compared with conventional therapy (CT) alone, oral Huangqi formulae plus CT increased FEV1, and a similar result was found comparing Huangqi formulae with no treatment. Improvements in SGRQ total score, COPD-related symptoms and reduction of frequency of exacerbations were found in patients receiving Huangqi formulae plus CT compared to those receiving CT alone or CT plus placebo. No serious adverse events were reported. However, there were some methodological inadequacies in the included studies. Conclusions. The benefits of Huangqi formulae for stable COPD were promising, but its efficacy and safety have not been established due to methodological weakness and possible bias in the reported results. Further rigorously designed studies are warranted

Feline aelurostrongylosis and canine angiostrongylosis: A challenging diagnosis for two emerging verminous pneumonia infections.

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Angiostrongylus vasorum (Nematoda, Metastrongyloidea) are causative agents of verminous feline and canine pneumonia. Both are presently emerging in several geographical areas and are of major clinical importance. OF Given the range of parasitic and non-parasitic pathogens which may cause cardio-respiratory distress in dogs and cats, the unequivocal specific diagnosis of both diseases is pivotal for unravelling their epidemiology and central to therapy and control. Several conventional clinico-pathologic, diagnostic imaging and parasitological approaches are currently used in practice, but all have major limitations in the specific diagnosis of these diseases. Serological methods have shown promise in the diagnosis of A. abstrusus and A. vasorum infections, but no clinically useful tests are currently available. Additionally, there have been major advances in the development of novel molecular diagnostic tools for feline aelurostrongylosis, but efforts to develop molecular diagnostic tests are still preliminary for angiostrongylosis. This article provides a review of A. abstrusus and A. vasorum infections in cats and dogs, focusing on the advantages and shortcomings of classical diagnostic methodologies and on present diagnostic advances as well as future perspectives instrumental to epidemiological and clinical studies