Dexamethasone Versus Prednisone or Prednisolone for Acute Pediatric Asthma Exacerbations in the Emergency Department: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of dexamethasone (DEX) as an alternative to prednisone/prednisolone (PRED) for the treatment of pediatric asthma exacerbations in emergency department (ED).

Methods: Fixed-effects meta-analyses of selected endpoints were performed by using data taken from relevant studies identified by following a priori eligibility criteria after a comprehensive literature search in several electronic databases.

Results: Data from 10 studies (3208 pediatric asthma patients [1616 DEX treated and 1592 PRED treated], 4.

Effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia on the expression of Nip3, cell apoptosis, beta-amyloid protein deposit in mice brain cortex.

Background: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is the most important pathophysiologic feature of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). To explore the relationship between SAS and dementia, the effects of CIH on the expression of Nip3, neuron apoptosis and beta-amyloid protein deposit in the brain cortex of the frontal lobe of mice were evaluated in this study.

Methods: Thirty male ICR mice were divided into four groups: control group (A, n = 10, sham hypoxia/reoxygenation), 2 weeks CIH group (B, n = 5), 4 weeks CIH group (C, n = 5), and 8 weeks CIH group (D, n = 10).