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Application of GRADE in Systematic Reviews: Necessity, Frequently-Asked Questions and Concerns

We elaborated the reasons why systematic reviews need to use GRADE based on a couple of specific examples. Aiming to provide references to understand and use GRADE correctly, we also answered some frequently-asked questions and concerns about GRADE as follows: a) differentiating the uses of GRADE between its application in guidelines and in systematic reviews; b) how to determine the overall quality of evidence? c) can GRADE be used to access the quality of single study or not? d) different uses of GRADE between randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies; e) weight of GRADE items; and f) factors that might influence the results of GRADE and the balance between upgrading and downgrading.

阿昔洛韦治疗特发性周围性面瘫

目的　探讨阿昔洛韦抗病毒治疗对特发性周围性面瘫患者的治疗作用。 方法　通过病例对照研究对2010年1月－2012年6月入院的特发性面瘫患者78例，使用随机表法随机分为阿昔洛韦治疗组和对照组，每组39例。治疗2周，对两组患者治疗前、2周、4周及8周后使用House-Brackmann面神经分级标准进行评定面瘫恢复情况。 结果　两组患者面瘫2 周缓解率分别为51.3%和48.7%；8周后面瘫恢复率分别为84.6%和87.2%，差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。 结论　特发性面瘫患者加用抗病毒治疗疗效未见明显提高，不推荐常规使用抗病毒治疗。

Significance of Indocyanine Green Measurement and Child-Pugh Classification for Evaluation of Preoperative Hepatic Functional Reservation

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of indocyanogen green retention rate (ICGR) measurement and Child-Pugh classification of liver function in the preoperative evaluation of hepatic functional reservation. MethodsThe level of ICGR at 15 min (ICGR15) and the percentage of liver fibrosis in 103 patients with liver cancer were measured before hepatectomy, and the Child-Pugh classification of liver function was evaluated before and after the operations, and their connections were analyzed. ResultsAs the rise of Child-Pugh classification of liver function, the percentage of liver fibrosis increased gradually, there were significant differences between any two Child-Pugh classification (Plt;0.05). There was a linear correlation between the ICGR15 and the liver fibrosis percentage (rs=0.960, Plt;0.05). The value of preoperative ICGR15 in patients with postoperative Child-Pugh classification from grade A to grade B or grade B to grade C was gnificantly higher than that in patients with stabilization of Child-Pugh classification before and after operations (Plt;0.05). ConclusionICGR15 combined with Child-Pugh classification can improve the accuracy for the evaluation of preoperative hepatic functional reservation.

Value of CT Grading Diagnosis in Clinical Therapy of Acute Pancreatitis

Objective To investigate the value of CT grading diagnosis in clinical therapy of acute pancreatitis. Methods CT scanning was carried out in patients with acute pancreatitis between 2003 and 2009, and Enhancement CT scanning was carried out in patients without contraindications of contrast medium. Two radiologists analyzed the images and made CT grading diagnose. Contrast study was made between CT grading diagnose and clinical scale as well as prognosis. Results In 518 cases, the CT grading was as the following: grade A 9 cases, grade B 66 cases, grade C 105 cases, grade D 147 cases, and grade E 191 cases. Patients with grade A and B were fully recovered after conservation and supportive treatment. In cases of grade C, only 2 patients had recurred pancreatitis after conservation treatment, and others were fully healing. Ninety-four patients who needed operation and 23 patients who died were all occurred in grade D and E. Conclusion CT grading diagnosis of acute pancreatitis can reflect the range, extent, and course of disease, and it has good dependablity with clinical grading.

Assessment of Combined Management for Lower Limb Chronic Venous Insufficiency According to CEAP Classification

Objective　To assess the combined management of lower limb chronic venous diseases according to the CEAP classification. Methods　One hundred and twenty patients were classified according to the CEAP classification. Based on clinical presentation and image study, all patients were treated with combined management plan including oppression, medication and surgery. Results　All 120 patients (135 limbs) were followed up in clinic, the local recurrence rate was 18.52%(25/135). Conclusion　CEAP classification expounds the developing process of lower limb chronic venous diseases. With CEAP, we can avoid the blind spot in the treatment and expand the extent of combined therapy. Accordingly, CEAP classification is useful in the treatment and diagnosis of chronic venous diseases.

Study of Correlation Between Liver Volume and Liver Reserve Function in Posthepatitic Cirrhosis Patients

Objective　To explore the correlation between liver volume variation of posthepatitic cirrhosis patients and the severity of the disease. Methods　One hundred and eleven patients with normal livers and 74 posthepatitic cirrhosis patients underwent volume CT scan. The relation between normal liver volume and body height, body weight and body surface area was studied by linear regression and correlation method, the standard liver volume equation was deduced. The change ratio of liver volume in cirrhotic patients was calculated and compared with Child classification. Results　The mean normal liver volume of Chinese adults was （1 225.15±216.23） cm3, there was a positive correlation between liver volume and body height, body weight 〔liver volume (cm3)=12.712×body weight (kg)+450.44〕 and body surface area 〔liver volume (cm3)=876.02×body surface area (m2)-297.17〕. The mean liver volume of Child A, B and C patients were （1 077.77±347.01） cm3, (1 016.35±348.60) cm3 and (805.73±208.85) cm3 respectively. The liver volume and liver volume index was significantly smaller in Child C patients than those in Child A and B patients (P＜0.05); while liver volume change ratio was higher in Child C patients (P＜0.05). Conclusion　Liver volume variation of cirrhotic patients can be quantitatively assessed by 16 slices helical CT volume measurement and standard liver volume equation. The change of the liver volume is correlated with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Arterial Ketone Body Ratio as Indicator in Liver Function

Objective To estimate the relationship between arterial blood ketone body ratio (AKBR) and liver function and to appraise the feasibility of adding AKBR into liver function estimate. MethodsFrom 1994 to 1998, 44 patients with unresectable liver cancer recieved the combined radiochemoembolization with mixed emulsion of phosphorus32 glass microspheres (32PGMS), chemoagent and glycerine or lipiodol, via intraoperative hepatic artery instillation, hepatic artery ligation and operational arterial embolization (HAL+OAE) or transcatheter hepatic artery embolization (TAE). Preoperative and postoperative function and energy change level of the liver were tested by liver function test and AKBR. CT, SPECT, AFP were used to judge the therapy effect; multivariate statistical analysis methods were used to evaluate the correlation between AKBR and liver function. Spearmen rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate whether there was any relationship between AKBR and liver function test, and to evaluate that there was any relationship between AKBR and survival time. ResultsA negative correlation showed between the level of AKBR and liver function. The correlation coefficient of the three level of AKBR before operation and survival time was 0.4409. Conclusion AKBR can well reflect the degree of liver function.

从汶川至芦山：地震医疗救援投入产出效益评估

Lymph Node Metastasis Extent Reflects the Prognosis of Patients with Esophageal Cancer after Esophagectomy Better Than Lymph Node Number

Objective To improve esophageal lymph node staging and investgate an ideal esophageal lymph node metastasis staging method. Methods The clinical pathological data and followup data of the 236patients who had undergone thoracic esophagectomy with at least 6 lymph nodes (LN) removed from January 1985 to December 1989 were analyzed retrospectively. Cox proportional hazard model was used to screen risk factors, and Logrank test was applied to perform survival analysis according to lymph node metastasis staging (number, distance and extent). Results The 10-year follow-up rate was 92.3%（218/236）. The overall 1-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 80.2%, 43.1% and 34.2% respectively. One hundred and twelve (47.4%) patients had LN metastasis, and their 5-year survival rates were lower than that of patients without LN metastasis (14.8% vs. 66.6%; χ2=77.18, P=0.000). Cox regression analysis showed that besides depth of invasion, differentiation grade and LN metastasis, the number, distance and extent of LN metastasis were the independent risk factors which could influence prognosis. A further analysis was given via univariate Logrank test. When grouped according to the number of LN metastasis, there were significant differences in overall survival rates (χ2=96.00,P=0.000), but no significant difference was found in survival rates between N2 and N3 group(Pgt;0.05). When grouped according to the distance of LN metastasis, there were significant differences in overall survival rates (χ2=79.29, P=0.000), but no significant difference was found in survival rates among S1, S2 and S3 group(Pgt;0.05). When grouped according to the extent of LN metastasis (0, 1, and ≥2 fields), there were significant differences in overall survival rates (χ2=87.47, P=0.000), and so were the survival rates among groups (χ2=5.14, P=0.023). Conclusion Revising the current Nclassification of TNM staging of esophageal cancer according to the extent of LN metastasis(0, 1, and ≥2 fields) is more reasonable, and can reflect the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer after esophagectomy better.

Correlation of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes with Organ Injury Scaling in Penetrating Cardiac Trauma

Objective To evaluate the relationship of the organ injury scale （OIS） with clinical characteristics and survival in penetrating cardiac trauma patients. Methods A retrospective review identified 224 patients with penetrating cardiac trauma. A grade assigned on the basis of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma OIS was assigned to each case studied. Clinical data, including Glasgow coma scale（GCS）, revised trauma score（RTS）, injury severity score （ISS）, penetrating thoracic trauma index （PTTI）, penetrating trauma index （PTI）, and outcomes were analyzed for association with OIS grade. Results The majority of patients were either grade Ⅳ/ or Ⅴ , with grade Ⅵ having the highest mortality. Patients of grade Ⅰ to Ⅲ were mostly Sub-clinical type patients, and grade Ⅳ to Ⅵ were mostly pericardial tamponade type and hemorrhagic shock type patients. The OIS grade was significantly negative correlated with postinjury duration and GCS （r=-0. 18, -0.16）, and positive correlated with transfusion, ISS, PTTI, PT1, and death（r=0. 17,0. 22,0. 40,0. 41,0. 29）. Conclusion The OIS appears to correlate with severity of injury and survival, and it may be useful in predicting outcomes in patients with penetrating cardiac injury.