ObjectivesTo analyze the active areas of real world studies on traditional Chinese medicine in China.MethodsCBM, CNKI, WanFang Data, PubMed and EMbase databases were electronically searched to collect real world studies on traditional Chinese medicine in China from inception to 26th April, 2018. The main research contents (research direction, data sources, and research methods) by Excel were extracted, together with the primary information by BICOMS-2 software and production of the network figures by NetDraw 2.084 software.ResultsEventually, 373 real world studies in traditional Chinese medicine were included, in which the initial one was punished in 2008. The top three ranking of authors involved in real world studies on traditional Chinese were Xie Yanming, Zhuang Yan, Yang Wei, and the top three ranking of institutions were Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, School of Statistics of Renmin University of China, and the PLA Navy General Hospital. The amount of related studies in Beijing accounted for 74.26%. It was found that the active areas involve real world, hospital information system, real world study, drug combination, and propensity score method. In terms of the main studied contents on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the real world, in which the top three were Fufang Kushen injection, Dengzhanxixin injection, and Shuxuetong injection. Digestive system disease, nervous system disease and cardiovascular disease received the highest attention rate, specifically stroke, coronary heart disease, virus hepatitis and hypertension. 58.18% studies were retrospective studies, 49.60% of the information were from the hospital information system, and 56.30% studies used data mining to carry out statistical analysis.ConclusionsMost real world studies on traditional Chinese medicine are based on HIS, and use data mining to study Chinese medicine preparations. The research attention on Chinese medicine is higher than that of the method of diagnosis and treatment, similarly the Chinese medicine preparations is higher than traditional Chinese medicine. In future, attention should be paid to traditional Chinese medicine, prescription and traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment, such as moxibustion and scraping.
Objective To assess the clinical effectiveness of vacuum-formed versus Hawley retainers in the period of retention. Methods PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data were searched from the date of their establishment to December 31, 2011, to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the clinical effectiveness of vacuum-formed versus Hawley retainers. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by two reviewers independently, and meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.1.4 software. Results Six RCTs including 935 patients were identified. The results of meta-analyses showed significantly fewer changes in irregularity of the maxillary incisors (MD=0.13, 95%CI 0.04 to 0.21) and mandibular incisors (MD=0.29, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.33) in the vacuum-formed group than in the Hawley group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in maxillary intercanine width (MD=?–0.01, 95%CI –0.03 to 0.01), mandibular intercanine width (MD=0.04, 95%CI –0.02 to 0.10), maxillary intermolar width (MD=?–0.01, 95%CI –0.03 to 0.00) and mandibular intermolar width (MD=?–0.02, 95%CI –0.08 to 0.04). The results of qualitative analysis were consistent with the results of meta-analysis and there were no significant differences in overjet and overbite. Conclusion Vacuum-formed retainers are more effective than Hawley retainers at maintaining position of incisors in the period of retention. In other aspects, they are similar. In consideration of the factors such as the limited quality and incomplete measure index of primary studies, RCTs of higher methodological quality are needed.
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose urokinase plus conventional treatment versus conventional treatment alone in patients with unstable angina. Methods We searched the database PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, SCI, CBM, CNK, VIP and Wanfang database on line by computer, and handsearched relevant professional journals by two independent screening and extract information. The quality of the included documents was evaluated by the criterion of Cochrane handbook 4.2.6. The cochrane collaboration’s Revman 4.2.10 software was used for data analyses. Results A total of 19 randomized controlled trials were included (2 273 patients) Meta-analyses showed that the low-dose urokinase group was better than the conventional treatment group in efficiency [OR= 4.18, 95%CI (3.24, 5.41)] and ECG [OR= 2.81, 95%CI (2.04, 3.88)], and there were no differences between the two groups in cardiovascular outcomes [OR= 0.74, 95%CI (0.44,1.24)], mucocutaneous bleeding [OR= 1.43, 95%CI (0.90, 2.28)], gums bleeding [OR= 1.88, 95%Cl (0.46, 7.70)] and microscopic hematuria [OR= 3.82, 95%CI (0.77, 18.92)]. Conclusion The low dose urokinase group is higher efficient than the conventional treatment group. As the samples of the included studies are small and their quality is low, more randomized, double-blind, high-quality and big- sample trials are required.
Objective To systematically evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of raltitrexed plus cisplatin in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) when compared with other chemotherapy regimens. Methods We electronically searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library and Chinese Biomedicine Database to March, 2007. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs were identified, and Revman 4.2.10 was applied for statistical analyses. Results One RCT involving 250 patients was included, which compared raltitrexed plus cisplatin versus cisplatin alone in the treatment of MPM. In the intention-to-treat population, the median survival time was statistically longer in the raltitrexed plus cisplatin group as compared to cisplatin alone group. (11.4 versus 8.8 months, P=0.048). The incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities was similar between the two groups. Conclusion The current evidence available showed that, the combination of raltitrexed and cisplatin may prolong the survival time for MPM patients, with a low incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities. However, more high-quality RCTs are required to further define its clinical effectiveness.
Objective To systematically assess the clinical efficacy and safety of cilostazol for preventing ischemic stroke recurrence. Methods Such databases as PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, CNKI, CBM, and VIP were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of cilostazol to prevent ischemic stroke recurrence (up to November, 2010). Two researchers selected studies and extracted data independently using a designed extraction form. The quality of included trials was evaluated and RevMan 5.0 software was used for meta-analyses. Results Four RCTs involving 3 916 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that there were significant differences between cilostazol and aspirin in terms of hemorrhagic stroke occurrence (RR=0.39, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.61, Plt;0.000 1), headache occurrence (RR=1.99, 95%CI 1.16 to 3.43, P=0.01) and dizziness occurrence (RR=1.43, 95%CI 1.13 to 1.79, P=0.002). Whereas, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of ischemic stroke recurrence (RR=0.80, 95%CI 0.61 to 1.04, P=0.10) and transient ischemic attack occurrence (RR=0.93, 95%CI 0.45 to 1.92, P=0.85). Conclusion The current evidence indicates that cilostazol is as effective as aspirin in preventing ischemic stroke recurrence, but with less incidence of hemorrhagic stroke.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and endotracheal tube (ETT) for airway management in pediatric general anesthesia. Methods Randomized controlled trials were collected through electronic searches of the PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, CBM, WanFang Data, VIP, CNKI from the date of establishment to November 2010. All the related data that matched the standards were abstracted by two reviewers independently. The quality of the included trials was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook 5.0. RevMan 5.0 software was used for meta-analysis of the complications, success of insertion on the first attempt and hemodynamic changes. Results A total of 39 trials involving 2 612 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that LMA was superior to ETT in terms of less cough (RR=0.21, 95%CI 0.15 to 0.28, Plt;0.000 01), laryngospasm or bronchospasm (RR=0.37, 95%CI 0.18 to 0.77, P=0.008) and agitation (RR=0.14, 95%CI 0.09 to 0.22, Plt;0.000 01) during emergency. The incidence of postoperative sore throat (RR=0.32, 95%CI 0.19 to 0.55, Plt;0.000 1), hoarse voice (RR=0.09, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.27, Plt;0.000 1), nausea and vomiting (RR=0.46, 95%CI 0.26 to 0.80, P=0.006) was significantly lower in the LMA group. The hemodynamic changes during insertion and extraction of LMA were more stable than ETT, such as the heart rate changes in insertion, extraction and post-extraction period (SMD= –1.18, 95%CI –1.59 to –0.77, Plt;0.000 01; SMD= –1.29 95%CI –1.72 to –0.86, Plt;0.000 01; and SMD= –1.51 95%CI –2.15 to –0.87, Plt;0.000 01, respectively) and the MAP changes in insertion, extraction and post-extraction period (SMD= –1.21, 95%CI –1.39 to –1.02, Plt;0.000 01; SMD= –1.31, 95%CI –1.77 to –0.85, Plt;0.000 01; and SMD= –0.85, 95%CI –1.24 to –0.46, Plt;0.000 1, respectively); but no significant differences in postoperative regurgitation and aspiration (RR=3.00, 95%CI 0.62 to 14.61, P=0.17) and successful insertion on the first attempt (RR=0.99, 95%CI 0.94 to 1.05, P=0.84) were found between the LMA and ETT groups. Conclusion Current evidence indicates that the laryngeal mask airway is superior to endotracheal tube in terms of fewer complications during emergency and after operation as well as stable hemodynamic changes. So, it is a selective, safe and effective airway management for children.
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of MR imaging for anterior cruciate ligament. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CBM, CSJD and CJFD to find all diagnostic tests about MR imaging in anterior cruciate ligament. QUADAS items were used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. We used Meta-disc software for data collection, and sensitivity, specificity and SROC curves were calculated to assess the diagnostic value of individual diagnostic tests. Results Twenty-nine studies met the eligibility criteria and were included. Compared with arthroscope, the summary values of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and SROC curve of MR imaging were 93%, 93%, 9.85, 126.39, and 0.971 4, respectively. Conclusion MR imaging can be regarded as an effective and feasible method for ACL tears diagnosis and screening clinically, based on the results of this systematic review.
Objective To evaluate the effect of standardized patient (SP) used in nursing fundamental. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi randomized controlled trials (q-RCTs) about comparing standardized patients with traditional teaching method in nursing fundamental were searched from the following electronic databases: PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, VIP and so on. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was assessed according to the quality assessment scale developed by Smits PB, and the valid data were extracted and meta-analyzed with the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 5.0.17 software. Results Five RCTs and one q-RCT involving 585 participants were included. The results of quality evaluation showed that the scores of five studies were more than or equaled 30. Descriptive analyses were only used because there was clinical heterogeneity between different studies. Comparing with traditional teaching method, SP teaching method in nursing fundamental improved the nursing procedure skills, the communication ability with patients and the ability of clinical judgment for nursing students. Conclusion The standardized patient teaching method is a prospective teaching mode. Because of the lack of RCTs about SP used in nursing fundamental, and the big difference of the teaching method and examine criteria in different studies, it is necessary to be verified in future by unified assessment methods and more researches with high quality.
Objectives To evaluate the effect of metrinidazole treatment after conventional hemorrhoidectomy pain in patients with third and fourth degree hemorrhoids. Methods We searched the Cochrane Library (Issue 1 2009), PubMed (1966 to March 2009), EMbase (1974 to March 2009), SCI (1974 to March 2009), CBM (1978 to March 2009), CNKI (1994 to March 2009), and VIP (1989 to March 2009) to identify randomized controlled trials or quasi- randomize controlled trials of metronidazole versus placebo for treating post hemorrhoidectomy pain. We evaluated the quality of the included studies by using the Handbook 4.2.6 recommend standards and analyzed data using the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.10. Results We included seven randomized controlled trials or quais-randomized controlled trials (n=553). Meta-analyses showed that there were statistical differences between metronidazole and placebo in pain after hemorrhoidectomy and the use of an additional dose of analgesia. Conclusions The current evidence shows that metronidazole relieves the pain after conventional hemorrhoidectomy and reduces the additional used of analgesics. Further high quality, large sample randomized controlled trials should be carried out.
The standards for reporting of diagnostic accuracy for studies in journal or conference abstracts (STARD for Abstracts) was developed for guiding the reporting of abstracts of diagnostic accuracy studies, which was published in BMJ in August 2017. The study mainly introduced and interpreted the items of STARD for Abstracts, in order to help domestic researchers to perform and report the abstracts of diagnostic accuracy studies by STARD for Abstracts.
