A comparative study of four methods of laryngeal muscle reinnervation in dogs is presented. Twenty-eight cases were divided into four groups to undergo main branch and branch of ansa cervicalis nerve anastomosis, and nerves implantation an neuromuscular pedicles transfer respectively for restoration of vocal cord adduction on left sides. The results showed that the four procedures seemed to induce effective reinnervation of adductor muscles. But the main branch of ansa cervicalis nerve suture was superior to the other methods among which little difference was noted in the functional recovery, electrophysiological activity and muscle strength. It demonstrated that main branch of ansa nerve suture was the best procedure for treatment of unilateral vocal cord paralysis among the four methods.
Objective The rising medical expenditure is an international problem. By comparing theories and methods of medical expenditure control between China and the US, this paper aims to find out the medical expenditure strategies fitting for our country and to help with the new round of medical and health system reform. Methods This evidence-based research searched for literatures using the search strategy and screened literatures according to inclusion and excluding criteria. Useful information in the literatures was extracted through quantitative analysis of literature tables and descriptive statistical analysis. Results We found that the US academia showed a sustainable and steady trend of increased concern on the medical expenditure control, while the Chinese academia showed a larger volatility on it. There were some obvious differences such as reasons for expenditure increase, the reasonableness of the medical expenditure increase, and the specific methods and strategies of the medical expenditure control between Chinese and American authors. Conclusion On the one hand, the purpose of medical expenditure control is based on the different stages of development. On the other hand, the main interest group determines the main body who is responsible for the medical expenditure control. According to our national context, China should develop effective strategies and methods for medical expenditure control.
ObjectiveTo compare the results of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with and without ILM transplantation to treat idiopathic macular hole (IMH) with hole form factor (HFF)<0.6. MethodsForty patients (40 eyes) of IMH with HFF<0.6 who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) were enrolled in this study. 20 eyes was performed PPV combined with ILM peeling (ILM peeling group), the other 20 eyes was performed PPV combined with ILM peeling and ILM transplant (ILM transplant group). The follow-up was ranged from 3 to 6 months with an average of 4 months. The changes of closing rate of hole, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction defect diameter and amplitude of wave P1 of ring 1 and ring 2 by multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) were comparatively analyzed for the two groups. ResultsIn 3 months after surgery, the IMH closing rate was 70% (14/20) in the ILM peeling group, and 100% (20/20) in the ILM transplant group, the difference between these two groups was significant (χ2=7.059, P<0.05). Postoperative BCVA was improved obviously in the two groups compared to preoperative BCVA, the difference was significant (t=4.017, 4.430; P<0.05). The rate of BCVA improvement in the ILM peeling group and ILM transplant group were 80% and 85%, the difference was not significant (χ2=0.173, P>0.05). The rate of significantly BCVA improvement in the ILM peeling group and ILM transplant group were 35% and 70%, the difference was significant (χ2=4.912, P<0.05). IS/OS junction defect (t=6.368, 6.635; P<0.05) and amplitude of wave P1 of ring 1 (t=2.833, 4.235) and ring 2 (t=2.459, 4.270) by mfERG in the two groups were improved after operation. The differences of postoperative IS/OS junction defect (t=2.261, P<0.05) and amplitude of wave P1 of ring 2 between the two groups were significant (t=2.282, P<0.05), but the differences of postoperative amplitude of wave P1 of ring 1 between two groups was not different (t=1.800, P>0.05). ConclusionPPV combined with ILM peeling and ILM transplantation can significantly improve the closure rate and vision of IMH with HFF<0.6.
By comparing the diagnostic accuracy of two or more tests in the same study, the one with the higher diagnostic accuracy can be screened. Therefore, it is extremely important to conduct the comparative diagnostic test accuracy study. This paper introduced the concept of the comparative diagnostic test accuracy study, compared it with single diagnostic test accuracy study, and described its role, study design, statistical analysis, current status, and challenges.
Objective To summarize and compare the functional characteristics and technical parameters of the comprehensive global clinical practice guideline (CPG) databases, so as to provide references for the construction of CPG database of China. Methods CPG databases were collected worldwide by discussing with experts in the guideline and database fields. Studies on guideline databases were searched in PubMed and CNKI to additionally collect CPG databases mentioned in these studies. Representative comprehensive CPG databases were finally selected by consulting relevant guideline experts. The basic information, functional characteristics (including column settings, service contents, and related file types) and technical parameter data were extracted and summarized. A descriptive analysis was conducted to compare different CPG databases. Results Nine guideline databases which are distributed in eight countries of the Americas, Europe, Oceania and Asia were included. The number of included guidelines of the nine databases ranged from 31 to 15 410. The earliest database was established in 1993. Except that the MINDS database didn’t provide search function, eight databases provided basic search function, and six provided further advanced search function. PDF and HTML formats of guidelines were available in most databases, but the XML format was only available in National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC). Responsive Web design was an important feature for most websites of databases and four databases developed mobile applications. Local mainstream social media sharing function was provided by six databases. All databases’ construction was professional in technical parameters including network transmission, Web server, programming language and the selection of server room. Conclusion This study compares the functional features and technical parameters of the comprehensive global CPG databases, which provides important information that should be considered in establishing a guideline database, to strengthen the top-level design or to help optimize the functionality of a guideline database. It also helps guideline databases users to find more proper resources.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of autologous implantation between bone marrow stem cells and peripheral blood stem cells for treatment of lower limb ischemia. Methods From December 2004 to December 2005, 42 patients with unilateral lower limb ischemia were treated with both autologous bone marrow stem cell implantation(group A, n=21)and autologous peripheral blood stem cell implantation (group B, n=21). Fortytwo patients included 32 males and 10 females. The age ranged from 34 to 80 years, with a mean of 65.6 years. Of the patients, there were 28, 8 and 6 patients suffered from diabetic lower limb ischemia, Burger’s disese and atherosclotic occlusion, respectively. Ischemic history was from 3 months to 5 years, with amean of 2.1 years. A series of subjective indexes (such as improvement of pain, cold sensation and numbness) and objective indexes such as increase of ankle brachial index (ABI), transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2), angiography, amputation rate, and improvement of foot wound healing, were used to evaluate the effect. Results After 4 weeks of implantation, the rate of pain relief was 88.2% in group A and 89.5% in group B (Pgt;0.05) ; the rate of cold sensation relief was 94.4% in group A and 94.7% in group B（Pgt;0.05）; improvement of numbness was 69.2% and 66.7% respectively in groups A and B（Pgt;0.05）. Increaseof ABI was 38.1% in group A and 33.3% in group B（Pgt;0.05）; increase of TcPO2 was 85.7% and 90.5% respectively in groups A and B（Pgt;0.05）; angiography was performed in 12 patients (group A) and 9patients (group B), and the new formed collateral vessel rate was 83.3% in group A and 77.8% in group B（Pgt;0.05）; the amputation rate was 9.1% in groups A and B（Pgt;0.05）; the rate of improvement of foot wound healing was 60.0% in group A and 66.7% in group B(P＞0.05). Forty patients were followed up 3-15 months(mean 8 months). The improvement rate of subjective symptoms was 75.0% in group A and 70.0% in group B (Pgt;0.05); increase of ABI was 60.0% in group A and 65.0% in group B; increase of TcPO2 was 80.0% and 75.0% respectively in groups A and B; the new formed collateral vessel rate was 90.0% in group A and 84.6% in group B. All ulcers healed except 1 case in group B. Conclusion Bone marrow stem cell graft and peripheral blood stem cell graft are all effective in treatingower limb ischemia.
Scientific and rigorous study design could improve the reliability of results of the comparative diagnostic test accuracy studies. The design procedures of a comparative diagnostic test accuracy study included: constructing the clinical questions, identifying the appropriate gold standard, selecting the representative patient sample, calculating the sample size, blindly interpreting and comparing the results of diagnostic tests, and setting up the cut-off value. This paper introduced 5 categories of the designs of comparative diagnostic test accuracy studies: fully paired, partially paired with a random subset, partially paired with a nonrandom subset, unpaired randomized, and unpaired nonrandomized design.
Yushu earthquake bettered a record all round in ability and speed about emergency command, provisioning, medical rescue, epidemic prevention, rebuilding and policy ensuring. The article compared the achievements in medical rescue of Yushu earthquake and Wenchuan earthquake from Ministry of Health and the hospitals who took part in medical rescue within 3 months after Yushu earthquake in order to summarize the experience, form the standard and provide decision-making references.
Objective To compare the effect of guiding boneregeneration between l-ethyl-3(3-diaminopropyol)-carbodiimide(EDAC)crosslinked acellular bovine pericardium (ABP) and medical collagen membrane (CM). Methods Defects of 7 mm×7 mm×5 mm were created in both mandibles of 24 rabbits, which weighted 2.6～3.5 kg. One side defect was covered with EDAC-crosslinked ABP(EDAC-crosslinked ABP group), the other side defect with medical CM as control(CM group). The ability of bone defect repair and change ofboth membrane materials were evaluated by gross observation, histological study and computer graphic analysis in the 4th, 8th, 16th and 24th weeks after operation. Results The surface of bone defects was even, consistent with adjacent normal bonein EDACcrosslinked ABP group, while that of bone defects was of no evenness in CM group in the 16th and the 24th weeks. The histological observation showed that bone trabecula formed in the EDAC-crosslinked ABP group and fibrous connective tissue was seen in CM group in the 16th and the 24th weeks. There were no significant differences in new bone percentage of bone defects between 2 groups inthe 4th and the 8th weeks(P＞0.05). In the 16th week new bone percentage of bone defects was 81.99%±3.92% in EDAC-crosslinked ABP group and 76.35%±4.29% in CM group, showing significant difference (Plt;0.05). The average percentage of absorption in EDAC-crosslinked ABP group was 16.57%, 27.94%, 65.61% and85.72% in the 4th, 8th, 16th and 24th weeks respectively, while that in CM group was more than 50% in the 4th week and completely degraded at the end of 8 weeks. Conclusion EDAC-crosslinked ABP has a better effect on guiding bone regeneration than CM in the repair of bone defects.
ObjectiveTo compare the visual outcomes of treatment with intravitreal ranibizumab alone or in combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). MethodsIn this retrospective and comparative study, 36 eyes of 36 patients with PCV were enrolled. Eighteen eyes received 0.5 mg (0.05 ml) ranibizumab injection only (simple injection group) and the other 18 eyes underwent combination therapy of ranibizumab injection and PDT (combination treatment group). Intravitreal ranibizumab was given at the third day after PDT. Re-treatment was considered in clinic examination. The minimum re-treatment interval was 3 months for combination therapy and 1 month for ranibizumab. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at baseline and each follow-up visit at 1, 3, 6, 12 month was measured as a primary outcome, and complications also observed in every follow-up. ResultsNo complications occurred in these 36 patients during the treatment or follow-up, such as retinal detachment, sustained high intraocular pressure, retinal holes, intraocular inflammation, and systemic adverse reactions. The average times of ranibizumab injections of simple injection group and combined treatment group were (3.00±0.84) and (1.89±0.68) times respective, and the difference was significant (t=4.370, P=0.000). The logMAR BCVA of the first and third month after initial treatment between two groups were significant different (t=0.668, 0.940; P>0.05). However, there was no significant difference between them at the 6th and 12th month (t=2.188, 2.547; P<0.05). In the last follow-up, the logMAR BCVA were improved in simple injection group and combination treatment group compared to the pre-treatment values (t=3.351, 9.408; P=0.012, 0.000). In simple injection group, visual acuity was improved in 3 eyes (16.7%), stable in 13 eyes (72.2%) and decreased in 2 eyes (11.1%). In combination treatment group, visual acuity was improved in 4 eyes (22.2%), stable in 13 eyes (72.2%) and decreased in 1 eyes (5.6%). ConclusionsIntravitreal ranibizumab injection and combined with PDT are both effective to improve vision in patients with PCV. Visual acuity was the same between the two treatments in 3 months after initial treatment; however 6 to 12 months after first treatment, patients received PDT combined with intravitreal ranibizumab injection had better visual acuity than those received the intravitreal ranibizumab injection only.