Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of enteral immunonutrition for patients with acute pancreatitis. Methods The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about enteral immunonutrition for patients with acute pancreatitis were searched in following databases: PubMed (1966 to August 2012), MEDLINE (Ovid, 1946 to August 2012), CENTRAL (Issue 3, 2012), CBM (1978 to August 2012), CNKI (1979 August 2012), VIP (1989 to August 2012), and WanFang Data (1977 to August 2012). The relevant materials and each reference of literature were also searched manually. Two reviewers independently screened the literature according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data and assessed the quality, and then the meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 6 RCTs involving 197 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the enteral immunonutrition group and the routine enteral nutrition group in following aspects: infectious complications and mortality rate, length of stay, level of C-reactive protein and numeration of leucocyte after treatment, and APACHE II score. Conclusion At present, no evidence shows enteral immunutrition is superior to routine enteral nutrition in acute pancreatitis. For the quantity and quality limitation of the included studies, more high-quality and large-sample RCTs are required to investigate the proper ingredients and dosage of enteral immunonutrition suitable for patients with acute pancreatitis.
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of arsenic trioxide (ATO) versus retinoic acid for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods Such databases as PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 12, 2012), CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP were electronically and comprehensively searched from inception to December 2012, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness and safety of ATO versus retinoic acid for patients with APL. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0.2 software. Results Eight RCTs involving 586 cases of APL patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that, ATO and all-trans-retinoic (ATRA) were not statistically different in CR rates (OR=0.85, 95%CI 0.54 to 1.35, P=0.50), CR time (OR=–8.14, 95%CI –16.42 to 0.13, P=0.05), recurrence rates (OR=0.14, 95%CI 0.02 to 1.21, P=0.07), early mortality (OR=0.82, 95%CI 0.32 to 2.06, P=0.67), and five-year total survival rates (OR=1.19, 95%CI 0.54 to 2.60, P=0.66). ATO had lower incidences of adverse reaction such as hyperleukocytosis syndrome (OR=0.32, 95%CI 0.18 to 0.58, P=0.000 1) and retinoic acid syndrome (OR=0.05, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.14, Plt;0.000 01). Conclusion ATO and ATRA are alike in CR rates, CR time, recurrence rates, early mortality, and five-year total survival rates, but ATO causes less adverse reaction. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, ATO should be applied with caution according to patients’ conditions in clinic.
Objective To assess the effects and safety of Tongxinluo (TXL) Capsule for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods PubMed (1966 to 2011.12.23), EMbase (1966 to 2011.12.23), Ovid CENTRAL (2011.10), CBM (1978 to 2011.12.23), VIP (1989 to 2011.12.23), CNKI (1980 to 2011.12.23), CDFD (1999 to 2011.12.23), and CDFD (1999 to 2011.12.23) were electronically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on TXL Capsule for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Meanwhile, relevant data were retrieved by hand search and data from pharmaceutical factories were collected. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. Results Thirty nine RCTs (non-placebo-controlled trials) involving 3 906 patients were included. The quality of the included studies was generally low. The follow-up time started from the end of treatment (minimum: 7 days) to 6 months. The result of meta-analysis (16 trials, 1 445 patients) showed that the TXL group was better than the control group in improving neurological function (SMD= −1.09, 95%CI −1.68 to −0.49). The result of meta-analysis (21 trials, 2 500 patients) showed that, the effectiveness rate (91.3%) of the TXL group was significantly higher than that of the control group (RR=1.22, 95%CI 1.14 to 1.30). Eight trials reported adverse reactions such as nausea and gastric discomfort. Four trials reported that 5 patients in the control group died during the treatment. No studies reported the data of mortality, dependency rate during 3-month follow up, or quality of life. Conclusion Current studies show that, TXL Capsule improves neurological impairment of patients with acute ischemic stroke which has less adverse reactions. Further studies are still needed to verify the effects of TXL on long-term mortality and disability. It is necessary to conduct more high quality RCTs especially with placebo-controlled trials to confirm the efficacy of Tongxinluo for acute ischemic stroke.
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness of amiodarone in treating repurfusion arrhythmia (RA) after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), so as to provide high quality evidence for formulating the rational thrombolytic therapy for AMI. Methods Randomized controlled trails (RCTs) on amiodarone in treating RA after thrombolytic therapy for AMI were electronically retrieved in PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2012), CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data from inception to January, 2013. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed quality. Then RevMan 5.1 software was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 5 RCTs involving 440 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis suggested that, compared with the blank control, amiodarone reduced the incidence of RA after thrombolytic therapy in treating AMI (RR=0.60, 95%CI 0.48 to 0.74, Plt;0.000 01) and the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (RR=0.47, 95%CI 0.26 to 0.85, P=0.01). It neither affected the recanalization rate of occluded arteries after thrombolytic therapy (RR=1.00, 95%CI 0.88 to 1.15, P=0.94) nor decreased the mortality after surgery (RR=0.33, 95%CI 0.10 to 1.09, P=0.07). Conclusion Current evidence indicated that, amiodarone can decrease the incidence of RA. Unfortunately, the mortality rate can’t be reduced by amiodarone. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of intracoronary glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared with intravenous administration. Methods Databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 9, 2012), Ovid, CBM, CNKI and VIP were electronically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about intracoronary GPIs administration versus intravenous administration undergoing PCI for ACS from inception to September 30th, 2012. Meanwhile, domestic relevant papers published in recent 1 year were also retrieved manually. References of the included studies were retrieved, too. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodologically quality of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. Results 10 RCTs involving 3 553 ACS patients were finally included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: compared with intravenous administration, intracoronary GPIs administration decreased the major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) (OR=0.54, 95%CI 0.34 to 0.85, P=0.008). The incidences of re-infarction (MI), revascularization (TVR) and heart failure were (OR=0.62, 95%CI 0.39 to 0.97, P=0.04), (OR=0.59, 95%CI 0.36 to 0.97, P=0.04), (OR=0.52, 95%CI 0.32 to 0.84, P=0.008), respectively. But for the mortality, there were no significant differences between the two groups (OR=0.81, 95%CI 0.58 to 1.14, P=0.23). Intravenous administration and intracoronary administration were alike in the incidences of mild/serious bleeding (mild: OR=0.94, 95%CI 0.75 to 1.19, P=0.63; serious: OR=1.18, 95%CI 0.76, 1.84, P=0.47). Conclusion Compared with routine GPIs regimen of intravenous bolus, intracoronary administration with initial dosage showed significant benefits in clinical outcomes in ACS patients undergoing PCI, which could not increase the incidence of bleeding.
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of alanyl-glutamine dipeptide for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods Such databases as MEDLINE, EMbase, CENTRAL, VIP, WanFang Data, CBM and CNKI were electronically searched from inception to October, 2012 for randomized controlled trials on alanyl-glutamine dipeptide for SAP. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2. Results Five trials were included involving a total of 227 patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that: compared with the control group, the alanyl-glutamine dipeptide group had the lower incidence of SAP complications (RR=0.41, 95%CI 0.20 to 0.82), the lower incidence of infected pancreatic necrosis (RR=0.12, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.89), less time for alleviating bellyache (MD= –0.90, 95%CI –1.72 to –0.08). There was a tendency in decreasing SAP mortality (RR=0.15, 95%CI 0.02 to 1.19) and lessening the recovery time of blood amylase (SMD=0.37, 95%CI –0.04 to 0.79). Conclusion Current evidence shows that, alanyl-glutamine dipeptide can lower the incidence of complications and the incidence of infected pancreatic necrosis, and shorten the time for alleviating bellyache in SAP patients. Due to the limited quality of the included studies, the above conclusion needs to be verified by more high quality studies.
Objective To assess the clinical efficacy of stroke unit (SU) of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in the treatment of acute cerebral stroke. Methods Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs or q-RCTs) were identified from CBM (1978-2009), CNKI (1994-2009), VIP (1989-2009), PubMed (1966-2009), MEDLINE (1978-2009), Scifinder (1998-2009), and The Cochrane Library (Issue 6, 2009), and relevant journals from Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were also hand searched. Data were extracted and evaluated by two reviewers independently with a designed extraction form. RevMan5.0.23 software was used for data analyses. Results A total of 12 RCTs and q-RCTs involving 2 316 patients were included. Meta-analyses showed that, stroke unit of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine was superior to general medicine treatment (Plt;0.05) in case fatality rate one month after stroke (RR= 0.34, 95%CI 0.22 to 0.54), discharge NIHSS score (WMD= –1.01, 95%CI –1.52 to –0.51) and discharge OHS score (WMD= –0.48, 95%CI –0.78 to –0.18); and it was superior to SU of western medicine (Plt;0.05) in NIHSS score one week after stroke (WMD= –2.38, 95%CI –4.08 to –0.68), NIHSS score one month after stroke (WMD= –1.52, 95%CI –2.32 to –0.73) NIHSS score three months after stroke (WMD= –1.77, 95%CI –2.59 to –0.95), difference value of NIHSS score of hospital admission and discharge (WMD= –1.94, 95%CI –2.54 to –1.34), OHS score one month after stroke (WMD= –0.56, 95%CI –0.95 to –0.17) and OHS score three months after stroke (WMD= –1.05, 95%CI –1.44 to –0.66). Conclusion The current limited evidence shows that there is a significant difference between stroke unit of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine and general medicine treatment. Although there is no significant difference compared with SU of western medicine, it is superior in improving the functional impairment of nerve as well as disability of injury. More large-scale RCTs with high quality are required to verify the effect of stroke unit of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in the treatment of acute cerebral stroke.
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect, safty and tolerance of Gankeshuangqing Capsule in the treatment of patients suffering from wind-heat syndrome (acute upper respiratory infection or acute bronchitis). Methods The clinical trials were designed multicentered, double blind, double dummy, randomized and parallel positive drug controlled. A total of 289 patients participated in the trials. Those who suffered from acute upper respiratory infection were given throat virus-detection to make a definite diagnosis of the origins of disease. Results Among the 40 patients who were diagnosed with virus infection, 81.82% in Gankeshuangqing group were healed, but only 50.00% in control group, and significant differences were observed between the two groups (Plt;0.05). At the end of the third day of treatment, the rates of cure and excellence in patients suffering from acute upper respiratory infection were 80.00% in Gankeshuangqing group, and 68.57% in control group, and both groups showed good therapeutic effect，but there was no significant difference between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). At the end of the seventh day of treatment, the rates of cure and excellence in patients suffering from acute bronchitis were 82.35% in Gankeshuangqing group, and 63.77% in control group, and both groups showed good therapeutic effect, and there were significant differences between the two groups (Plt;0.05)；only one patient in Gankeshuangqing group had constipation during the treatment, but there was no evidence showing that it is caused by Gankeshuangqing. Conclusion The results show that Gankeshuangqing Capsule has a definite effect on wind-heat syndrome (acute upper respiratory infection or acute bronchitis) with good safety.
Objective To investigate the correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and severity of coronary artery lesions in young men with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods Total 278 young men with AMI less than 45 years old were retrospectively studied, and all of them were admitted to hospital from January 2009 to December 2011, and had undergone coronary angiography. According to the results of coronary angiography, the patients were divided into three groups based on the number of artery lesions: the single group (156 cases), the double group (64 cases) and the triple group (58 cases). The relationship between the severity of coronary artery lesions and the following factors were observed: HbA1c, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), hemoglobin (Hb), serum uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), body mass index (BMI), smoking history, drinking history and family history of early coronary artery disease. Results a) HbA1c levels were gradually raised in all the three groups, but the single group (6.39±1.67%) was significantly lower than the double group (6.91±1.63%) and the triple group (7.41±2.12%), with significant differences (Plt;0.05); the HbA1c level of the single group was significantly lower than the triple group in both the ST-segment elevation AMI (6.42±1.68% vs. 7.17±1.86%, Plt;0.05) and the non-ST-segment AMI (5.57±0.37% vs. 8.56±2.83%, Plt;0.05); the HbA1c level of the single group was significantly lower than the triple group in patients with diabetes millitus (8.31±1.83% vs. 8.59±2.02%, Plt;0.05) and in patients without diabetes millitus (5.56±0.33% vs. 5.74±0.37%, Plt;0.05); b) There were significant differences in SBP, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C and drinking history between the single group and the other two groups (all Plt;0.05), and there were significant differences in DBP and TG between the single group and the double group (all Plt;0.05); and c) The results of logistic regression analysis showed that, LDL-C (OR=1.790), HbA1c (OR=1.287) and SBP (OR=1.042) were the independent risk factors (all Plt;0.05) for multiple lesions in coronary arteries of young men with AMI. Conclusion Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c is an independent risk factor for multiple lesions in coronary arteries of young men with AMI.
Objective To investigate the variation of total hospitalization cost for single-diagnosed disease of different types of acute appendicitis in a three-A hospital, so as to provide evidence for the reimbursement amount of social medical insurance. Methods All patients with acute appendicitis who had surgery treatment during January-April 2011 (before implementing the fee system for single-diagnosed disease) and January-April 2012 (after implementing the fee system for single-diagnosed disease) were collected in this study for analysis. According to the types of acute appendicitis, the patients were stratified into the low risk group (simple, suppurative and gangrenous) and the high risk group (perforative, abscess-formed and pregnancy-combined). The correlation between total hospitalization cost and types of acute appendicitis, as well as the changes of total hospitalization cost after implementing the fee system for single-diagnosed disease were analyzed. Results A total of 90 eligible patients were included. The disease types were positively correlated with hospital stays and total hospitalization cost. All three types in the low risk group could control the average total hospitalization cost within RMB 10 000 yuan. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that, before implementing the fee system for single-diagnosed disease, the total hospitalization cost up to RMB 6 000 yuan could be positively correlated with the above risk stratification (r=0.442, P=0.003). After implementing the fee system for single-diagnosed disease from January to April 2012, the constituent ratio of hospital stays, compared with that in the same period of 2011, had no significant difference (P=0.108) between the two groups; but the ratio of hospital stays (less than 5 days) increased from 45% to 64%, and the ratio of hospital stays (greater than or equal to 10 days) decreased from 17% to 4%, indicating a tendency of shortening hospital stays. Also, the constituent ratio of total hospitalization cost had no significant difference (P=0.114) between the two groups; but the ratio of total hospitalization cost (greater than or equal to RMB 9 000 yuan) decreased from 32% to 13%, indicating a tendency of lowering total hospitalization cost. Conclusion The low risk group of acute appendicitis, RMB 6 000 yuan should be rated as the rational reimbursement amount of social medical insurance. The total hospitalization cost for the high risk group is quite various, so the further studies are needed to investigate the feasibility of the fee system for single-diagnosed disease as well as the rating amount of total hospitalization cost. The implementation of the fee system for single-diagnosed disease is helpful to shorten hospital stays and reduce total hospitalization cost.