Objective To evaluate the short-term effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic versus conventional open left hepatectomy. Methods Databases including CENTRAL (Issue 1, 2012), MEDLINE/PubMed (1978 to 2012), EMbase (1966 to 2012), CBM (1978 to 2012), CNKI (1979 to 2012) and the Chinese Medical Association Figures Journal Systems (1990 to 2012) were searched to collect clinical trials on laparoscopic versus conventional open left hepatectomy. Relevant proceedings and references of the included studies were also retrieved manually. According to the inclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed quality. Then meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan5.0 software. Results No randomized controlled trials were collected, and a total of 5 clinical concurrent controlled trials involving 319 patients were included finally. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the conventional open group, the laparoscopic group was longer in the operation time (WMD=40.89, 95%CI 29.39 to 55.38, Plt;0.000 01), and was lower in the intraoperative blood loss (WMD=−107.84, 95%CI −208.96 to −6.73, Plt;0.04); but there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of hospital stays (WMD=−3.78, 95%CI −9.60 to 2.04, P=0.20) or postoperative complications (WMD=0.69, 95%CI 0.37 to 1.29, P=0.25). Conclusion As a minimally invasive technique, laparoscopic left hepatectomy has advantages of small abdominal incision and less intraoperative blood loss, and it is helpful to improve the quality of life for patients. Due to the limitation of quantity and quality of the included studies, it is hard to estimate the impact of bias on the reliability of this conclusion. We advise to perform more high quality, large scale and multicenter studies with adequate follow-up in the future.
Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of somatostatin analogs versus placebo for Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO). Methods Such databases as PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, WanFang Data, CNKI, VIP and CBM were searched to collect the randomized controlled trails (RCTs) about somatostatin analogs for Graves’ Ophthalmopathy (GO) pulished by March 2012, while the bibliographies of the included literatue were also retrieved. According to the inclusion criteria, two reviewers screened literature, extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 5 RCTs involving 210 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that somatostatin analogs could reduce the clinical activity score (CAS) of GO patients (MD=0.58, 95%CI 0.02 to1.13, P=0.04), but the effects in reducing the degree of proptosis (mm) was still unverifiable (MD=0.21, 95%CI –0.14 to 0.56, P=0.24). It did not show obvious effects for diplopia, orbital volume, intraocular pressure, visual acuity or the restriction of eye movements. The existing evidence could not confirm that somatostatin analogs were effective for GO (OR=1.32, 95%CI 0.45 to 3.9, P=0.61). Conclusion Somatostatin analogs can reduce the CAS of GO patients, but without significantly clinical significance. Moreover, the effect of reducing proptosis is sitll unverifiable. So the existing evidence cannot confirm that somatostatin analogs are effective for GO. For the quality and quantity limitation of the included studies, this conclusion needs to be proved by performing more high quality RCTs.
Objective To compare the survey results of the 8-year program students of clinical medicine discipline before and after the implementation of system-based integrated course reform, to provide feedback for system-based integrated course reform. Methods The questionnaire survey was continuously conducted for 2 years among the 8-year program students in grade of 2005 and 2006, so as to investigate their attitudes towards the integrated clinical courses, then relevant improvement of teaching measures were performed according to their feedback, and the difference of teaching effects between those 2 years was finally compared. Results A total of 79 students in grade 2005 and 78 students in grade 2006 were investigated. The baseline data were matched between the 2 grades. The results of statistical analysis showed that, the overall cognition (χ2=32.924, Plt;0.000 1) and assessment (t=−2.900, P=0.004) of integrated courses among students in grade 2006 got more improved in comparison with the students in grade 2005, and more students tended to select integrated courses, but there was no statistical difference. Conclusion Although system-based integrated clinical course as a new thing has its limitations, the reform idea and direction are still approved by students, so it is worth popularizing.
Objective To collect the clinical data of victims with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University within 2 weeks after 4.20 Lushan earthquake, and to analyze their clinical characteristics and effects of early rehabilitation, so as to provide baseline data for rescue TBI victims with the early rehabilitation treatment during emergency medical rescue. Methods A total of 392 victims admitted in the hospital from April 20th, 2013 to May 3rd, 2013 were screened, of which the TBI victims were clinically assessed and treated with early rehabilitation. Then both the activities of daily living (ADL) and the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Recovery Scale (RLA) before and after the treatment were analyzed. The data were input by Excel software, and the statistical analysis was performed by SPSS softwar. Results A total of 51 TBI victims at age from 3 to 84 years old were included finally. The categories of TBI included subarachnoid hemorrhage (41.2%), intracranial hematoma (33.3%) and mixed type (33.3%), and the severity were associated with the type of TBI. The GCS score of cerebral concussion was higher (13.25 ± 0.62) while that of the diffuse axonal injury was lower (4.50 ± 0.71). All victims (100%) had limited ADL, 74.51% had cognitive dysfunction, 9.80% had speech disorder, and 7.84% had dysphagia. After the early rehabilitation treatment, both ADL (before treatment: 34.82 ± 58.29, after treatment: 69.63 ± 22.29) and RLA (pre-treatment: 4.16 ± 1.24, treatment: 7.20 ± 1.69) were obviously higher than those before treatment, with statistical differences (both P lt;0.05). Conclusion The TBI categories of Lushan earthquake victims are various and mixed, and the severity associated with the type of TBI. All TBI victims are accompanied with more clinical problems and functional limitation. Early rehabilitation treatment is safe and effective to improve ADL and RLA as well.
Objective To evaluate the quality of Chinese clinical practice guidelines published in domestic medical journals in 2011. Methods The following 4 Chinese databases including WanFang Data, VIP, CNKI and CBM were searched from January 2011 to December 2011. The quality of included guidelines was assessed by using AGREE II. Results A total of 75 guidelines published in 2011 were included. Among them, 10 guidelines (13%) stated the conflict of interest, 10 guidelines (13%) mentioned evidence-based developing, 5 guidelines (7%) performed evidence grading system, 8 guidelines (11%) performed recommendation strength grading system, and 4 guidelines (5%) performed both evidence and recommendation strength grading systems. The ratio of the 6 domains’ scores of AGREEⅡ were as follows: scope and purpose (18%), stakeholder involvement (11%), rigour of development (8%), clarity of presentation (34%), applicability (5%), and editorial independence (14%). Conclusion Compared with the guidelines published before, the guidelines of 2011 have a higher quality and some of them are progressively standardized in developing methodology.
Objective To introduce how to use Stata software to implement the randomization of clinical trials. Methods Some examples were taken to describe how to implement the randomization of each kind of clinical trials. Results Stata implemented its required functions, such as simple randomization, stratified randomization, block randomization and the randomization of group treatment. Conclusion Stata can easily implement the randomization of clinical trials.
Objective To evaluate the effect and significance of PBL in clinical skills experiment teaching center (CSETC). Methods A total of 60 undergraduates in major of clinical medicine were divided into two groups according to their student ID. The control group (n=30) was set in an ordinary small classroom, while the experimental group (n=30) was in CSETC for fully using the teaching resources there. Both groups were taught with PBL method by same teachers, and the integrated final examination and questionnaire were adopted to evaluate the teaching effect. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. Results All 8 participated teachers believed that carrying out PBL in CSETC could promote teachers’ professional development, alleviate the shortage of teachers and classroom, increase the utilization ratio of CSETC, and improve the teaching quality. The results of survey on students showed that, compared with the control group, information management ability and clinical skills of students were improved obviously (Plt;0.01). Although there was no difference in total score of final exam, the experimental group was markedly higher than the control group in the score of clinical skill subject (Plt;0.01). Conclusion Carrying out PBL in CSETC can improve teaching quality, and clinical skills and information management ability of students. It is helpful to alleviate the shortage of teachers and classroom, and promote the teaching standards of CSETC.
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness of different therapies for chronic periapical lesion (CPL), such as different root canal surgeries and conventional root canal obturation. Methods The following databases such as The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMbase, VIP, CNKI, CMB and WanFang Data were searched to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and concurrent controlled trials (CCTs) on CPL treated by both conventional root canal obturation and different root canal surgeries such as periapical curettage, retrograde obturation and apicoectomy. The references of the included studies were also retrieved, and the retrieval time was from inception to October 2012. Two reviewers independently screened the literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the quality. Then after cross-checking, the meta-analyses were performed by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 7 RCTs and 11 CCTs involving 1 663 patients were included. Among all 1 727 teeth, 1 661 met the inclusion criteria which contained 1 151 in the root canal surgeries groups, and 510 in the conventional groups. The methodological quality of all included studies was low. The results of meta-analysis showed that, in general, different root canal surgeries plus conventional root canal obturation were more effective than root canal obturation alone (RR=1.12, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.18, Plt;0.000 01). The results of sub-group analysis revealed that, the total effective rate of both retrograde obturation (RR=1.3, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.46, Plt;0.000 1) and apicoectomy (RR=1.23, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.46, P=0.02) was superior to that of periapical curettage, with significant differences in both sub-groups. But retrograde obturation took similar effect as apicoectomy did, without a significant difference (RR=0.96, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.11, P=0.61). Conclusion This systematic review suggests that, root canal obturation plus root canal surgeries is superior to root canal obturation alone in treating chronic periapical lesions. The comparison among different root canal surgeries reveals that, both apicoectomy and retrograde obturation are superior to periapical curettage. For the quantity and quality limitation of the included studies, additionally, the possibly existing bias because it is difficult to conduct surgeon and patient blind methods in root canal obturation and root canal surgeries in clinic, so the above conclusion has to be further proved by performing more well-designed and high quality RCTs.
Clinical endpoint committee (CEC) plays an important role in the process of the endpoint events adjudication in clinical trials. It greatly influences quality control of clinical trials, the importance of which increases especially after the emergency of the definition of clinical endpoint events by Academic Research Consortium (ARC). In this paper, we briefly introduce the role of CEC in the process of the quality control of clinical trials, application of CEC in China and abroad, and its influence to the primary endpoints. We also investigate the application and development of CEC in the field of cardiovascular diseases, and discuss how to reasonably apply CEC and maximize its role in the process of the endpoint events adjudication of clinical trials.
Objective To investigate the effects of evidence-based medicine (EBM) course on clinical medical students and to propose teaching advice. Methods Using a predesigned questionnaire, we conducted an investigation on the literature retrieval, knowledge of EBM terms, and subject attitude of clinical 5-year and 7-year medical students before and after EBM course, and then an interview was performed to collect the opinions of the students. Data was statistically analyzed. Results After the course, average reading time and frequency of literature retrieval increased significantly compared to the situation before EBM course (Plt;0.05). Knowledge levels of main EBM terms related to practice increased significantly (Plt;0.05). 5-year medical students’ ability of literature appraisal also increased (Plt;0.05). In this interview, these students suggested that course time of literature retrieval and screening should increase and medical statistics should be reviewed. Conclusion Through the study of EBM course, both knowledge and attitude of students changed a lot, and combining case teaching with EBM course has a better teaching effect. Learning the concepts and techniques of EBM for clinical medical students can help them apply medical research evidence correctly in clinical practice, and train their self-learning ability.