Objective To define an evidence-based conclusion concerning ultrasound screening for fetal genital system malformations during pregnancy. Methods In order to assess whether or not ultrasound screening for fetal genital system malformations is effective and feasible, we searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2009), MEDLINE (1981 to 2009), ACP Journal Club (1991 to 2008), and BMJ Clinical Evidence (1999 to 2008) for systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and controlled clinical trials. Results Five cohort studies and three crosssectional studies were retrieved. The results showed ultrasound screening detected fetal sex determination by the contour of the rump and the angle of the genital tubercle to a horizontal line through the lumbosacral skin surface in the first trimester. Scrotal size and penile length increases with gestational age for male fetuses, and by 32 weeks, bilateral testicular descent was observed in most cases. Ultrasonographic scans, fetal genetic studies, and hormonal assays of amniotic fluid can diagnosis certain diseases, fetal sex differentiation disorders, fetal endocrinal disorders, and chromosome abnormality. Conclusion The findings of this study should reassure physicians and parents alike that ultrasound screening is an reliable option for the prenatal diagnosis of fetal genital system malformations, but more randomized controlled trials are needed to further supply relevant evidence.
Objective To formulate an evidence-based conclusion concerning ultrasound screening for fetal malformations for a pregnant woman after 12 gestational weeks. Methods Based on the clinical problem of whether pregnant women need ultrasound screening for fetal malformations after 11-14 gestational weeks, we used “ultrasound or sonography and prenatal or fetal at first trimester or 11-14 weeks; ultrasound exposure; fetal development” as the keywords and searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2008), MEDLINE (1981 to 2008), ACP Journal Club (1991 to 2008), and BMJ Clinical Evidence (1999 to 2008) for systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed to identify the current best evidence. Results Three systematic reviews, two RCTs and ten cohort studies were retrieved. The results showed ultrasound screening detected different fetal malformations in the first, second and third trimester. Not all of the fetal malformations could be detected through prenatal ultrasound screening. Nuchal translucency (NT) measurement as a tool for screening chromosomally abnormal fetuses and detecting fetal malformations by ultrasound proved to be effective if performed within 11-14 gestational weeks. The routine second trimester screening, however, could not be replaced by a detailed ultrasound examination at 11-14 gestational weeks. Most of the trials concluded that the effect of ultrasound on a fetus was not harmful. Conclusion The findings of this study should reassure physicians and parents alike that ultrasound screening is an appropriate option for the pregnant women after 12 gestational weeks.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the performance of nuchal translucency (NT) measurement in the first trimester of pregnancy as a marker for congenital heart defects (CHD). MethodsFrom January 2010 to December 2012, middle-low risk pregnant women were prospectively evaluated at the Department of Ultrasound in West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University about Nuchal translucency and echocardiography. ResultsNT measurements was performed in 2 443 women from 2 764 pregnancy women, and a total of 2 125 case could be used in data analysis. NT measurement >2.5 mm was found in 68 fetuses, and 11 cases were diagnosed as CHD (prevalence 5.2/1 000). The sensitivity and specificity of NT measurement >2.5 mm for CHD were 45.5% and 87%, respectively. ConclusionIncreasing nuchal translucency might increase the risk of CHD in fetuses, and could be used as a method to diagnosis CHD.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol and sodium phosphate in bowel preparation of capsule endoscopy. Methods We searched CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data, PubMed, EMbase, and The Cochrane Library (Issue 6, 2016) up to June 2016, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about polyethylene glycol and sodium phosphate in bowel preparation of capsule endoscopy. Two reviewers independently screened literatures, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies, and then meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of six RCTs involving 531 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: compared with the sodium phosphate solution group, the polyethylene glycol solution group had poor intestinal cleansing effect (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.21 to 0.88,P=0.02), higher incidence of adverse reaction (OR=3.20, 95%CI 1.13 to 9.06,P=0.03); but shorter gastric retention time (OR=–11.61, 95%CI –13.71 to –9.51,P<0.000 01) and residence time in the small intestine (OR=–4.17, 95%CI –7.74 to –0.60,P=0.02). Conclusion The efficacy of oral polyethylene glycol is poor in cleaning effect and adverse reaction than sodium phosphate solution, but better in the digestive tract residence time for capsule endoscopy. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, the above conclusion is still needed to be proved by more high-quality studies.
Objective To systematically review the endometrial receptivity evaluated by transvaginal ultrasound and predict the clinical pregnancy outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect studies on transvaginal ultrasound evaluation of endometrial receptivity to predict the clinical pregnancy outcome of IVF-ET from inception to December 1st, 2021. Two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. RevMan 5.4 software and Stata 16.0 software were used to perform meta-analysis. Results A total of 24 cohort studies and 1 case-control study were included. The total sample size was 6 632 cases, including 3 340 in non-pregnancy group and 3 292 in pregnancy group. The results of meta-analysis showed that there was no difference in endometrial volume (MD=−0.11, 95%CI −0.33 to 0.11, P=0.34) or uterine artery S/D (MD= −0.04, 95%CI −0.17 to 0.09, P=0.55) between the two groups. The endometrial thickness measured on human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) day in the non-pregnant group (MD=−0.48, 95%CI −0.77 to −0.18, P=0.001) was thinner than that in the pregnant group. On embryo transfer (ET) day, uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) (MD=0.08, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.15, P=0.01) and resistance index (RI) (MD=0.01, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.01, P<0.000 01) were higher than those in the pregnancy group. Conclusion Endometrial volume and uterine artery S/D measured during IVF-ET were not correlated with clinical pregnancy outcome, while endometrial thickness measured on HCG day and uterine artery PI and RI measured on ET day were correlated with clinical pregnancy outcome. Transvaginal ultrasound evaluation of endometrial receptivity has a certain predictive value for clinical pregnancy outcome of IVF-ET. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of prone position ventilation on mortality in ARDS patients by cumulative meta-analysis.MethodsDatabases including PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data were searched from inception to September 30th, 2016 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about prone position ventilation in ARDS patients. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. In accordance with the published literature or published in chronological order, cumulative meta-analysis was performed using Stata12.0 software, and the trial sequencing analysis (TSA) method was used to assess the reliability and authenticity of the results.ResultsA total of 9 RCTs involving 2 359 patients were included. The cumulative meta-analysis results showed that the prone position ventilation could reduce the mortality in ARDS patients (OR=0.60, 95%CI 0.40 to 0.90). The TSA results showed that the definite conclusion had been obtained before the desired amount of information had been reached.ConclusionThe current evidence shows that prone position ventilation is associated with decreased mortality in ARDS patients. Due to limited quality and quantity of included studies, the above results are needed to validate by more studies.
Objective To investigates the awareness of medical staff on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) . Methods Between April and July 2014, health workers from towns and cities of Liangshan Prefecture participated in the class of prevention of HIV PMTCT for key areas in Sichuan province. Those participants, together with some other health workers from the same area whose daily work was related to prevention of PMTCT, were selected as the study subjects. PMTCT prevention knowledge survey questionnaire was given out for the investigation, and chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results We retrieved altogether 447 (out of 450) valid questionnaires. Of all the respondents, 94.18% were aware of proper time for HIV antibody testing and routes of transmission in the perinatal period, 95.30% knew the strategy of applying as early as possible antiviral drugs during pregnancy, and 86.58% learned to know when to give the first dose to the newborns and avoidance of breast-feeding. However, the awareness of relevant applied knowledge was relatively low. The total awareness rate of medical workers from women and children’s hospitals were significantly better than that of medical workers from general hospitals (P<0.05), and differences of the awareness depended on different specialties, professional titles and working age (P<0.05). Conclusions The majority of medical personnel in the surveyed area have grasped basic knowledge of PMTCT of HIV, but the ability of applying relevant knowledge precisely, promptly and standardly in daily practices needs to be improved. We recommend that, in addition to strengthening routine training on knowledge of PMTCT of HIV, the mastering and practice of key technical intervention strategies should be followed up and evaluated, especially for those from general hospitals. And it is also important to give training and after-training assessment based on different specialties.