Epigenetics has been very hot in the research of biomedicine. In addition to genetic factors, the occurrence of a disease is also influenced by environmental factors. Retinal vascular diseases are a type of irreversible blind eye disease, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. The retinal vessel changes are the major features of retinal vascular diseases, which are the result of interaction of multiple environmental factors and genes. Epigenetic modification mainly includes DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation. Epigenetic mechanisms mediate the effects of environmental factors on genes related to retinal vascular diseases, and affect the eventual development of the diseases. Therefore, ophthalmologists should keep eyes close on the role of epigenetics in retinal vascular diseases, track the progress of epigenetic methods in the treatment of retinal vascular diseases, and pay attention to the application prospects of epigenetics. Finding the epigenetic regulators of these diseases can not only deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of these diseases, but also provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.
ObjectiveUsing SYRCLE tool (the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation) to evaluate the risk of bias of animal studies in stroke field published in Chinese journals, identify problems of these studies in design, implementation and measurement, in order to provide references for improving the quality of animal studies in China. MethodsWe searched databases including CBM, VIP, CNKI and WanFang Data from inception to December 31st, 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included animal studies using SYRCLE tool developed by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. ResultsA total of 582 studies were included. The assessment results showed that the number of reported items with "Low Risk" in SYRCLE, which have 22 items, reported in >50% of the 4 items and in <30% the 16 items in articles of animals experiments. More than 99% of the studies fulfilled the 3 items and more than 17% of the articles to meet the 10 items while less than 1% of the documents met the 17 items. The quality of studies increased excepted the period of 2010 to 2014. The methodological quality of animal experiments presented a trend of increasing and no significant differences were found in CSCD indexed or not. ConclusionThe methodological quality of animal experiments of stroke is poor in China in terms of the selection bias, implementation bias, measurement bias, withdraw bias and reporting bias.
Compared with traditional clinical trials, the real-world studies set higher requirements on the authenticity (reality), applicability, and timeliness of the evidence obtained. In this paper, we brought up a hypothesis that creating synergies between observational and experimental studies may meet these requirements. And then it was discussed in three aspects including providing evidence, research design and execution. In addition, data analysis facilitated generating efficient and robust evidence which was in support of decision making. Finally, some enlightenment may be offered for Traditional Chinese Medicine evaluation methods based on the synergies of both study types.
Evidence-based medicine advocates to support clinical decision-making with the best evidence, which is useful to objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and optimize clinical diagnosis and treatment. However, significant individualized characteristics identified from syndrome differentiation and treatment are incompatible with evidence-based clinical decision-making, which highlights population-level evidence, to some extent. In recent years, a number of new methods and technologies have been introduced into individualized clinical efficacy evaluation research of traditional Chinese medicine to assist managing and processing complex and multivariate information. These methods and technologies share similarities with evidence-based medicine, and are expected to link the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine with evidence-based clinical decision-making. They will guide the development of evidence-based clinical decision-making in traditional Chinese medicine.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of biceps tendon tenotomy and fixation versus biceps tendon repair for shoulder superior labrum anterior posterior (SLAP) lesions with Meta-analysis. MethodsThe databases such as PubMed, EMbase, the Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2014), CBM, VIP and CJFD (from the establishment time of databases to December 2014) were searched to collect all randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the clinical effectiveness of biceps tendon tenotomy and fixation versus biceps tendon repair for shoulder SLAP lesions. Two reviewers independently screened the literature according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. After the data extraction and methodological quality evaluation, meta-analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.0 software. ResultsThree RCT were included. Among the total 137 patients involved, Meta-analysis showed that, compared with the biceps tendon repair group, the biceps tenotomy group had superior amount in the UCLA score [WMD=3.43, 95%CI (2.29, 4.56), P<0.000 01], the shoulder pain [WMD=1.18, 95%CI (0.30, 2.05), P=0.009], function [WMD=0.96, 95%CI (0.51, 1.41), P<0.000 1] and satisfaction [WMD=1.16, 95%CI (0.31, 2.01), P=0.007] with significant differences. But there were no significant differences between the two groups in the shoulder flextion [WMD=0.10, 95%CI (-0.87, 1.06), P=0.84] and strength [WMD=0.13, 95%CI (-0.09, 0.35), P=0.25]. ConclusionBased on the current studies, the biceps tenotomy and fixation is superior to the biceps tendon repair in treating shoulder SLAP lesions. For the quality restrictions and possible publication bias of the included studies, more double blind, high quality RCT are required to further evaluate the effects.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effect of compound Danshen dripping pills combined with Western medicine on inflammatory factors and cardiac function after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction.MethodsDatabases including CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase and The Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials of compound Danshen dripping pills combined with Western medicine in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction after PCI. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the databases to June 11th, 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk bias of included studies. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 16 studies were included, involving 2 069 patients. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the combination of compound Danshen dripping pills could increase the left ventricular ejection fraction (MD =−4.74, 95%CI 4.07 to 5.42, P<0.01), decrease the B-type natriuretic peptide (SMD=−3.81, 95%CI −5.06 to −2.57, P<0.01), the level of interleukin-6 (SMD=−3.20, 95%CI −4.54 to −1.86, P<0.01) and level of tumor necrosis factor-a (SMD=−4.96, 95%CI −7.03 to −2.89, P<0.01).ConclusionsCurrent evidence suggests that the combination of compound Danshen dropping pills has potential benefits in inhibiting inflammation and improving cardiac function after PCI. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusions.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the outcomes of laser photocoagulation of congenital X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) at progressive stage. MethodsTwenty-seven cases (36 eyes) of XLRS sick kids were enrolled in this study. All patients were followed up for more than 1 year, retinoschisis has developed slowly but complications occurred during the follow-up. They are all boys from 3 to 12 years old; the average age was 6.47 years old. There were 18 unilateral cases, 9 bilateral cases. The affected eyes were randomly divided into treatment group and control group (n=18 eyes). The treatment group eyes received multi-wavelength krypton yellow laser photocoagulation around the retinoschisis, but no laser spots were laid in a optic-disk area surrounding the macular and optic disc. Children in the control group were followed up every six months without treatment. Both groups of children were followed up for 3 years. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), complications (vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment) were measured at the last follow up. ResultsAt the last follow-up, the treatment group mean logMAR BCVA was 0.73±0.41, which is the same as pre-treatment BCVA (t=1.187, P=0.201). The control group mean logMAR BCVA 0.88 ±0.60, which is the same as pre-treatment BCVA (t=-2.093, P=0.033). The changes of the BCVA in these two groups was statistically different (t=-2.093, P=0.033). For the treated 18 eyes, visual acuity improved in four eyes (22.2%); not changed in 10 eyes (55.6%) and decreased in four eyes (22.2%). For the 18 eyes in the control group, visual acuity improved in three eyes (16.7%); not changed in four eyes (22.2%) and decreased in 11 eyes (61.1%). The vision reduction rate in treatment group was statistically less than the control group (χ2=5.600, P<0.01). There were 2 eyes (11.1%) and 7 eyes (38.9%) with serious complications in the treated and control eyes respectively. The complication rate treatment group was statistically less than the control group (χ2=3.710,P<0.05). ConclusionLaser photocoagulation can stabilize or improve vision of advanced XLRS patients, and prevent the occurrence of serious complications.
ObjectiveTo observe the optical coherence tomography (OCT) features of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) and its relationship and visual acuity. Methods Twenty-three XLRS patients (38 eyes) were enrolled in this study.All patients underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) examination. The international standard visual acuity chart was used for BCVA test and the results were then converted into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) visual acuity. The mean logMAR BCVA of all patients was 0.41±0.28. Topcon 3D-OCT 1000 and Topcon DRI-OCT were applied to detect the retinal layers of retinoschisis. Based on the OCT features, retinoschisis was classified into 3 types, including splitting between outer nuclear layer (ONL) and outer plexiform layer (OPL), inner nuclear layer morphology (INL) splitting, splitting between ganglion cell layer (GCL) and nerve fiber layer (NFL). Based on the OCT features of fovea, there were photoreceptor inner segment (IS)/outer segment (OS) presence group and IS/OS absence group. ResultsThere were 17 eyes (44.7%) with splitting between ONL/OPL, 38 eyes (100%) with INL splitting, 13 eyes (34.2%) with splitting between GCL/NFL. INL splitting can coexist with splitting in other retinal layers. There were 25 eyes (65.8%) with splitting in 2 or more retinal layers. The mean logMAR BCVA were 0.32±0.17 and 0.44±0.22 respectively in the IS/OS absence group and presence group, the difference was statistically significant (t=6.531, P=0.008).The mean fovea thickness (FT) were(517.10±96.92)and(523.08±72.84) μm respectively in the IS/OS absence group and presence group, the difference was not statistically significant (t=2.282, P=0.061). There was no correlation between logMAR BCVA and FT (r=0.200, P=0.929). ConclusionsIn patients with XLRS, the foveomacular schisis involved in multiple retinal layers and most frequently in the INL. The defect of IS/OS is the important reason of the low visual acuity.