Objective To evaluate the effectiveness, safety, cost and optimal dosing regimen of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) used in the lumbar spine arthrodesis. Methods We formulated the clinical questions according to the PICO principle. We searched the ACP Journal Club (1991 to February 2008), The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2007) and PubMed (1990 to February 2008) as well as other relevant databases. The evidence retrieved was critically appraised. Results Current evidence showed that BMP was a satisfactory and safe behavior in lumbar arthrodesis. Its cost was equal to that of autogenous iliac bone graft. The types of BMP currently used in clinical practice are BMP-2 and BMP-7. Finished product of fixed composition ratio was recommended in anterior lumbar inter-body fusion, while in posterolateral fusion, 20mg of BMP-2 or 3.5mg of BMP-7 for each side was recommended, with proper carrier according to the place where it was used. Conclusion BMP may be introduced to China for lumbar spine arthrodesis. Before it is applied extensively, further large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed. Meanwhile, more research is necessary to determine the proper dosage and preparation form for the dominant Chinese population.
Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of chemotherapy in children with newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma at low-, intermediate-, and high-risk. Methods From the perspective of health system, a decision-tree model was designed for cost-effectiveness analysis. The chemotherapy regimens of low-risk group included OEPA (vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, doxorubicin), AV-PC (doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone, cyclophosphamide), and ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, dacarbazine); intermediate-risk group included OEPA, ABVE-PC (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, cyclophosphamide) and ABVD; high-risk group included OEPA, ABVE-PC, ABVD and BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone). The effectiveness and cost parameters were derived from the event-free survival rate reported in the literature, the drug linked reference price in Sichuan province, and treatment price of medical institutions. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to explore the impact of uncertainty. Results In the low-risk group, compared with AV-PC, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) of OEPA and ABVD were 80 700 yuan and 108 799 yuan, respectively. In the intermediate-risk group, compared with OEPA, the ICER of ABVE-PC and ABVD were −17 737 yuan and −4 701 yuan respectively. In the high-risk group, compared with ABVE-PC, the ICER of OEPA, ABVD and BEACOPP were 149 262, 472 090 and 64 652 yuan, respectively. Univariate sensitivity analysis showed that in low-risk group, the most influential factors were cost of OEPA and cost of ABVD; in moderate-risk group were cost of ABVE-PC and cost of OEPA; in the high-risk group were cost of OEPA, cost of ABVD, and cost of BEACOPP, respectively. The results of probabilistic sensitivity analysis are basically consistent with the main analysis. Conclusion If China's per capita gross domestic product in 2023 (89 358 yuan) was used as the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold, OEPA in the low-risk group, OEPA in the intermediate-risk group and BEACOPP in the high-risk group are cost-effective.