ObjectiveTo explore the correlation of pretreatment systemic immune inflammation index (SII) with prognosis in esophageal cancer patients.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, Chinese Biology Medicine, and Wanfang databases to identify eligible studies evaluating the relation between pretreatment SII and prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer from establishment of databases to December 2018. SII was defined as the absolute neutrophil count multiplied by the absolute platelet count divided by the absolute lymphocyte count. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were cancer-specific survival and disease-free survival. The Stata 12.0 software was applied for the meta-analysis, and the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were assessed.ResultsA total of six retrospective studies involving 2 376 esophageal cancer patients were included and all patients were from China or Japan. The results revealed that elevated pretreatment SII was significantly associated with poor OS in esophageal cancer [HR=1.50, 95%CI (1.15, 1.95), P=0.002]. Subgroup analyses of OS indicated that SII had a high prognostic value in patients who received surgery [HR=1.54, 95%CI (1.14, 2.08), P=0.005] and were diagnosed as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [HR=1.50, 95%CI (1.11, 2.02), P=0.007]; however, no significant relation was observed between SII and prognosis in esophageal cancer patients who were treated with radiotherapy [HR=1.318, 95%CI (0.611, 2.841), P=0.482]. Furthermore, compared with neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet to lymphocyte ratio, SII showed a higher predictive value for the prognosis of esophageal cancer.ConclusionsPretreatment SII may serve as an independent risk factor for prognosis of Chinese and Japanese esophageal cancer patients, especially patients who were treated with surgery and with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, more prospective studies with big samples from other countries or regions are still needed to verify our findings.
Objective To calculate the typical time taken to complete protocols and reviews, to track how often reviews are updated and compare with Collaboration policies, to feed back any gaps in documentation of dates to individual Cochrane Collaborative Review Groups, and to suggest changes to presentation of reviews and to editorial processes.Methods Data were extracted either from The Cochrane Library or a specially constructed database to calculate the age of reviews and protocols, and the frequency of updating of reviews. Issue 1, 2003, with 1 596 reviews and 1 200 protocols, was used as the index issue.Results Median number of issues between a protocol and its completed review being published on The Cochrane Library is 5 (1.25 years). 65% of protocols have appeared on The Cochrane Library for no longer than two years, but the number of protocols more than two years old is probably increasing. One-third of reviews have been substantively updated, but generally only once and often within several months of the first publication of the review. The number of out-of-date reviews is probably increasing. Conclusions While the stage between publishing a protocol and the completed review is usually completed in no longer than two years, the number of out-of-date reviews and protocols requires continuing attention. How up-to-date a review is depends on when the evidence base was last searched and when additional relevant evidence has been integrated into the review. This needs to be reflected in the information provided to readers of Cochrane Reviews and some alternative ways of presenting the components of this information are given. More accurate and complete reporting will also allow the Collaboration to track progress against policy.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of different stimulation modalities of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with SSRI in improving depressed mood after stroke using network meta-analysis. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, CBM and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the objectives from inception to October 1, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed by using R 4.2.1software. ResultsA total of 25 RCTs involving 2 152 patients were included. Four types of rTMS stimulation combined with SSRIs were included: high-frequency stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal (l-DLPFC), low-frequency stimulation of l-DLPFC, low-frequency stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal (r-DLPFC), and low-frequency stimulation of the bilateral DLPFC. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that the effect of combining four stimulation methods with SSRI in treating depression was better than that of SSRI alone (P<0.05). Probability sorting results showed that low-frequency stimulated bilateral DLPFC (88.9%) > low-frequency stimulated l-DLPFC (63.1%) > high-frequency stimulation l-DLPFC (57.1%) > low-frequency stimulation r-DLPFC (40.4%). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the four stimulation methods combined with SSRI and the use of SSRI alone (P>0.05). Conclusion?rTMS combined with SSRIs is better than SSRIs alone in improving depressed mood after stroke. Low-frequency rTMS stimulation of bilateral DLPFC may be the best. Meanwhile, the safety of different stimulation methods is good.
As one of the most sophisticated research methods of evidence-based medicine, systematic review is an activity of collecting, arranging and analyzing medical information. The methodological characteristics of systematic review reflect the value orientation of this activity. By analyzing and summarizing these characteristics, this paper points that the process of systematic review reflects the value orientation of attaching importance to obtaining universal information sources, treating individual information in an add-weight way, discretion in interpreting results and updating of time-limited information in medical information activities.
Objective To systematically review the abroad studies on patients for patient safety, and compare them with the current status of domestic studies, so as to provide suggestions for evidence-based strategic decision about how to conduct the education of patients for patient safety and improve the medical quality. Methods The databases of MEDLINE, EMbase and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were searched to identify the relevant studies and their references. Literatures were screened with data extraction in accordance with the predefined inclusive and exclusive criteria. The quality of literatures was assessed with the standard of Cochrane Handbook 5.0 and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, and the data were comprehensively analyzed with qualitative research methods.Results Among 28 included studies, 5 were Chinese literatures, 1 was RCT, and the others were cross-sectional studies. The results showed that: a) Generally, the patients at home and abroad were poor in the awareness of patient safety, but they were eager to participate in the patient safety; b) Factors affecting patients’ participation were their characteristics, disease-related, and emotional feelings; c) Three studies reported the methods of involving patients in patient safety from the aspects of infection, malpractice, and medication; d) Some studies showed that patients’ participation could effectively promote the standardized operation of medical staffs, prevent unsafe events, and reduce damages; and e) The research contents of the included Chinese literatures were just related to the patients’ awareness of patient safety, attitude to participation, and influencing factors. Conclusion The limited studies relevant to patients for patient safety are short of high-quality RCTs for proving the effectiveness of patient participation methods, so it indicates that the stress should be laid on evaluating the effectiveness of patients for patient safety in future research.
Objective To assess the effect of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) on decayed deciduous and permanent teeth in children. Methods Such databases as CENTRAL of The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, and VIP were searched, and the China clinical trial register center were also searched. The search was conducted by the end of April, 2009 to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ART vs. conventional restorative treatment (CRT) for childhood caries. The data extraction was performed by two reviewers independently. The quality of the included studies was critically assessed and the data analyses were performed by the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 5.0.2 software. Results A total of seven randomized controlled trials were included. Only was the descriptive analysis conducted because of the difference of restorative materials used in each study, the types of target teeth, the measure indexes, and the year limit of follow up, which showed that, most of the included studies suggested that the survival rate of restorative materials in all types of caries hole was similar between the ART group and the CRT group; only a few studies suggested that the CRT group was superior to the ART group; the children in the ART group felt more comfortable than those in the CRT group during the treatment procedure; two studies compared the working time and got an opposite results. Conclusion Because of the higher clinical heterogeneity of the include studies, the merger analysis fails to be conducted, so it is impossible to get a precise conclusion about the effect of treating childhood caries with ART vs. CRT, and more RCTs with high quality are needed for confirmation.
Objective To evaluate the effect of prophylactic removal of asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth in adolescents and adults compared with the retention of these wisdom teeth. Methods We searched the Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register （to 4 August, 2004）, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials （CENTRAL）, PubMed （1966 to 4 August, 2004）, EMBASE （1974 to 4 August, 2004）. There was no restriction to publication of language. Key journals were handsearched. An attempt was made to identify ongoing and unpublished trials. All randomised or controlled clinical trials （KCTs/CCTs） comparing the effect of prophylactic removal of asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth with no-treatment （retention） were included. Assessment of relevance ,validity and data extraction were conducted in duplicate by three independent reviewers. Where uncertainty existed, authors were contacted for additional information about randomisation and withdrawals. The quality assessments of the trials were carried out. Results Only three trials were identified to fulfill the selection criteria. Two complete RCTs assessed the influence of prophylactic removal on late incisor crowding in adolescents. One ongoing RCT was identified, but the researchers were unable to provide any data and intended to publish in the near future. Although both complete trials met the inclusion criteria, different outcome measures were prevented us from pooling data. Conclusions No evidence has been found to support or refute routine prophylactic removal of asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth in adults. There is some reliableevidence that suggests that the prophylactic removal of asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth in adolescents neither reduces nor prevents late incisor crowding.
Objective To assess the differences between a glucose meter and autoanalyzer at home and broad.Method MEDLINE, CNKI, FMJS, and CBM were searched electronically (1995 to May, 2008). The statistical analysisof included studies was performed according to the Cochrane systematic reviews method. Result Twenty four studies, including 11 English records and 19 Chinese records involving 4 963 specimens, were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed us the blood glucose values of Abbott, Roche, and Johnson abroad subgroups are higher than the laboratory method, and their WMD (95%CI) are 0.57 (0.34,0.80), 0.43 (0.04,0.81), 0.41 (0.11,0.71). The blood glucose values of the Abbot and Roche domestic subgroups are comparable to the laboratory method [WMD= 0.60, 95%CI (– 0.79, 1.99); WMD= – 0.13, 95%CI (– 0.56, 0.29)]. The blood glucose value of the Johnson domestic subgroup is lower than laboratory method [WMD= – 0.95, 95%CI (– 1.42, – 0.48)]. Conclusion The results of the abroad studies are relatively consistent, and the blood glucose values of all abroad subgroups are higher than laboratory method. The domestic studies are different because of other factors.
Objective To assess the effect of Dengzhanhua Injection for angina pectoris. Methods We performed an electronic search for MEDLINE (1966 to 2004), EMBASE (1974 to 2004), The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2004), CBM and CNKI (1980 to 2004). We included randomized controlled trials that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and evaluated the quality of those trials and performed the meta-analysis by RevMan 4.2.7. Results Eight trials were included involving 634 patients. However, they were of poor quality. The results of meta-analysis indicated that there were statistical difference on symptoms and electrocardiogram (ECG) improvements between Dengzhanhua and control group (Breviscarpine≥30 mg) with RR 1.26, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.44 and RR 1.30, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.49, respectively. However, Dengzhanhua Injection (Breviscarpinelt;30 mg) vs. basic therapy showed no statistical difference in either symptom improvement (RR 1.03, 95%CI was 0.90 to 1.18) or ECG improvement (RR 1.01, 95%CI 0.86 to 1.20). In addition, Dengzhanhua decreased the myocardial infarction attacks in one year following up (OR 0.06, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.29). Conclusions Little evidence shows that Dengzhanhua is superior to simple basic therapy in the symptoms and ECG improvements as an auxiliary drug. However, this systematic review can not draw a conclusion about the effectiveness of Dengzhanhua Injection compared to simple basic therapy in the treatment of angina pectoris due to the poor quantity of included trials.
