Advances in epidural labor analgesia:Effectiveness and treatment strategies of butorphanol

In this editorial,we provide a critical review of the article by Tang et al published in the World J Clin Cases,focusing on the utilization of butorphanol for epidural analgesia during labor.Our discussion encompasses recent research developments in epidural labor analgesia,specifically highlighting the current status of clinical applications of butorphanol and associated treatment approaches.Epidural analgesia is widely acknowledged as the primary method for pain management during labor,offering effective and prolonged pain relief while allowing mothers to remain alert and actively participate in the delivery process.Among the various drugs utilized for epidural labor analgesia,butorphanol has received increasing attention due to its potential efficacy and distinctive pharmacological properties.As a synthetic opioid analgesic,butorphanol exhibits both agonistic and antagonistic activity on opioid receptors,striking a balance between analgesia and minimizing side effects.Nevertheless,the safety and efficacy of butorphanol in epidural labor analgesia remains controversial.While certain studies have reported positive outcomes with butorphanol,including effective pain relief and a reduced incidence of side effects,others have raised concerns about its safety and efficacy compared to traditional opioids or alternative analgesics.In addition,the optimal dosing strategy and regimen of butorphanol as an adjuvant in epidural labor analgesia still need to be verified.Through comprehensive synthesis and analysis of existing literature,we aim to evaluate the current evidence regarding the use of butorphanol for epidural labor analgesia,delineate areas of consensus and controversy,and propose future avenues for research and clinical practice in this domain.

Ketogenic diet therapy in children with epilepsy caused by SLC2A1 mutations:a single-center single-arm retrospective study

Background This retrospective study assessed the efficacy and safety of ketogenic diet therapies in children with epilepsy caused by SLC2A1 genetic mutations and glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome.Methods Pediatric patients with epilepsy symptoms admitted to our medical center between January 2017 and October 2021 were included if they presented with an SLC2A1 genetic mutation on whole-exome sequencing.We analyzed the patients’convulsions and treatment with antiepileptic drugs.The patients were followed up at different time periods after ketogenic diet therapies.Results Six patients with SLC2A1 mutations were included in this study.The patients had seizures of different types and frequencies,and they took antiepileptic drugs to relieve their symptoms.They were then treated with a ketogenic diet for at least four months.We analyzed epilepsy control rates at 1,2,3,6,and 12 months after ketogenic diet treatment.All patients were seizure-free within a month of receiving the diet therapy.All patients were followed up for six months,three were followed up for 12 months after the treatment,and there was no recurrence of epilepsy during this period.After antiepileptic drug withdrawal,none of the patients experienced seizure relapse when receiving ketogenic diet treatment alone.No severe adverse events occurred during the therapy.Conclusions Ketogenic diet therapy is very effective and safe for the treatment of epilepsy caused by SLC2A1 mutations.Therefore,patients with glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome caused by SLC2A1 mutations should begin ketogenic diet treatment as soon as possible.