This is the seventh paper in the evidence-based medicine glossary series. In this paper, We mainlyintroduced five terms related to meta-analysis——prospective meta-analysis, individual patient data meta-analysis,cumulative meta-analysis, multiple-treatments meta-analysis and meta regression.We also gave some examples to helpreaders better understand and use them.
Objective To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and therapy response of some conventional chemotherapy drugs in breast cancer, and to explore the value of SNP in guiding individualized treatment. Methods Pub-Medline and Chinese CHKD periodical electronic databases were searched. Representative researches in this field were sorted out and concluded. Results Varied genes related to drug metabolism have SNP phenomenon, which are closely associated with interindividual diversity in drug response. Race, section, environment, and drug-drug or gene-gene interactions may have effect on the association.Conclusion The study on SNP has important application prospect in optimizing the individual drug-delivery. However, the combinatorial analyses of multi-SNPs and multi-genes and the prospective studies with large-scale samples and random controls are still needed.
Abstract: Objective To compare the midterm patency rates of individual and sequential saphenous vein grafts (SVG) as coronary bypass conduits of offpump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) and evaluate the impact of the grafting techniques (individual or sequential grafts) on the graft patencyafter OPCAB. Methods The clinical data of 398 patients in General Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army receiving OPCAB with individual and sequential grafts from June 2005 to March 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 301 males and 97 females with their age ranged from 53 to 82 years (63.6±10.3 years). A total of 714 distal coronary anastomoses on 448 SVG were assessed by using 64multislice computed tomography (64MSCTA) at an average of 19.8±23.6 months (3 months to 5 years) after OPCAB procedure. The blood flow of grafts in the proximal segment of individual and sequential SVG and the patency rates of grafts and anastomoses were compared, and the effect of different locations on the patency rate of the anastomoses was analyzed. Results The mean blood flow in double SVG (37.11±16.70 ml/min vs. 25.15±14.24 ml/min, P0.042) and in triple SVG (37.56±19.58 ml/min vs. 25.15±14.24 ml/min, P=0.048) were both significantly higher than the flow in single SVG. The anastomoses on the sequential conduits had better patency (95.1％ vs. 90.1％, P=0.013). The patency of sideto side anastomoses was better than that of endtoside anastomoses (97.0% vs. 93.1%, P=0.002) and that of the individual endtoside anastomoses (97.0% vs. 90.1%, P=0.041). There was no significant difference between distal anastomoses in sequential and those in single grafts (P=0.253). No significant difference was observed between the two methods in regard to the three major coronary systems (including the anterior descending branch, the right coronary artery, and the circumflex branch). However, anastomoses on sequential grafts had superior patency to those on individual grafts in the right coronary system (P=0.008). Conclusion The midterm patency of a sequential SVG conduit after OPCAB is excellent and generally superior to that of an individual one. The best runoff coronary artery should be placed at the distal end and the poor coronary vessels should be arranged in the middle of the grafts.
Abstract： Objective To compare individualized protamine with protamine based on weight in terms of postoperative bleeding and blood transfusion dose, in order to reduce postoperative bleeding complications. Methods Forty adult patients scheduled to elective open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB） were randomly divided into two groups. For patients in the experimental group, we gave them protamine based on heparinprotamine titration result, while patients in the control group received the same amount of protamine as the heparin administered before operation. Pleural drainage and required transfusion were recorded at 1, 2 and 24 hours after surgery. Results Protamine dose given to the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group (Plt;0.05), while pleural drainage was significantly lower at 1 h(180±83 ml vs. 285±156 ml,P=0.012), 2 h (74±31 ml vs. 114±44 ml，P=0.002), and 24 h (465±167 ml vs. 645±207 ml，P=0.004) than that in the control group after surgery, and the required red blood cell suspension was also significantly lower than the control group (0.15±0.27 U vs.0.80±0.96 U,P=0.018). Conclusion Compared with protamine dose based on heparin administered before CPB, individualized protamine based on titration can reduce postoperative pleural drainage (blood loss) and red blood cell suspension requirement.
Objective To study digitize design of custom-made radial head prosthesis and to verify its matching precision by the surgery of preoperative three-dimensional (3-D) virtual replacement. Methods Six healthy adult volunteers (3 males and 3 females, aged 25-55 years with an average of 33 years) received slice scan of bilateral elbow by Speed Light 16-slice spiral CT. The CT Dicom data were imported into Mimics 10.0 software individually for 3-D reconstruction image, and the left proximal radial 3-D image was extracted, the mirror of the image was generated and it was split into 2 pieces: the head and the neck. The internal diameter and the length of the radial neck were obtained by Mimics 10.0 software measurement tools. In Geomagic Studio 12 software, the radial head was simulated to cover the cartilage surface (1 mm thickness) and generated to an entity. In UG NX 8.0 software, the stem of prosthesis was designed according to the parameters above and assembled head entity. Each custom-made prosthesis was performed and verified its matching precision by the surgery of preoperative 3-D virtual replacement. Results Comparing the morphology of 6 digitize custom-made prostheses with ipsilateral radial heads by the 3-D virtual surgery, the error was less than 1 mm. The radial head prosthesis design on basis of the contralateral anatomy was verified excellent matching. Conclusion The 3-D virtual surgery test and the digitized custom-made radial head prosthesis will be available for clinical accurate replacement.
Objective To investigate the value of computer-aided design (CAD) in defining the resection boundary, reconstructing the pelvis and hip in patients with pelvis tumors. Methods Between November 2006 and April 2009, 5 cases of pelvis tumors were treated surgically using CAD technology. There were 3 males and 2 females with an average age of 36.4 years (range, 24-62 years). The cause was osteosarcoma, giant cell tumor of bone, and angiosarcoma in 1 case, respectively,and chondrosarcoma in 2 cases. According to the Enneking system for staging benign and mal ignant musculoskeletal tumors, regions I, I + II, III, IV, and I + IV is in 1 case, respectively. According to the principle of reverse engineering, 5 patients with pelvis tumors were checked with lamellar CT/MRI scanning, whose two-dimensional data were obtained in disease area. The three-dimensional reconstruction of pelvic anatomical model, precise resection boundary of tumor, individual surgical template, individual prosthesis, and surgical simulation were precisely made by computer with CAD software. Based on the proposal of CAD, the bone tumor was resected accurately, and allograft il ium with internal fixation instrument or allogeneic il ium with personal ized prosthetic replacement were used to reconstruct the bone defect after tumor was resected. Results The operation was successfully performed in 5 cases. The average operation time was 7.9 hours, and the average blood loss was 3 125 mL. Hemorrhage and cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 1 case, respectively, and were cured after debridement. Five patients were followed up from 24 to 50 months (mean, 34.5 months). All patients began non-weight bearing walk with double crutches at 4-6 weeks after operation, and began walk at 3-6 months after operation. Local recurrence developed in 2 patients at 18 months after operation, and resection and radiotherapy were performed. According to International Society of Limb Salvage criteria for curative effectiveness of bone tumor l imb salvage, the results were excellent in 2 and good in 3. Conclusion The individual surgical template, individual prosthesis, and surgical simulation by CAD ensure the precision and rel iabil ity of pelvis tumors resection. The CAD technology promotes pelvis tumor resection and the reconstruction of pelvis to individual treatment stage, and good curative effectiveness can be obtained.
Objective To explore and evaluate the accuracy and feasibil ity of individual rapid prototype (RP) drill templates for atlantoaxial pedicle screw implantation. Methods Volumetric CT scanning was performed in 8 adult cadaveric atlas and axis to collect Dicom format datas. Then three-dimensional (3D) images of atlas and axis were reconstructed and the parameters of pedicles of 3D model were measured by using software Mimics 10.01. The 3D model was saved by STLformat in Mimics. The scattered point cloud data of 3D model were processed and the 3D coordinate system was located in software Imageware 12.1. The curves and surfaces of 3D model were processed in software Geomagic Studio 10. The optimal trajectory of pedicle screw was designed and a template was constructed which accorded with the anatomical morphology of posterior arch of atlas and lamina of axis by using software Pro/Engineer 4.0. The optimal trajectory of pedicle screw and the template were integrated into a drill template finally. The drill template and physical models of atlas and axis were manufactured by RP (3D print technology). The accuracy of pilot holes of drill templates was assessed by visually inspecting and CT scanning. Results The individual drill template was used conveniently and each template could closely fit the anatomical morphology of posterior arch of atlas and lamina of axis. Template loosening and shifting were not found in the process of screw implantation. Thirty-two pedicle screws were inserted. Imaging and visual inspection revealed that the majority of trajectories did not penetrate the pedicle cortex, only 1 cortical penetration was judged as noncritical and did not injury the adjacent spinal cord, nerve roots, and vertebral arteries. The accuracy of atlas pedicle screw was grade 0 in 15 screws and grade I in 1 screw, and the accuracy of axis pedicle screw was grade 0 in 16 screws. Conclusion The potential of individual drill templates to aid implantation of atlantoaxial pedicle screw is promising because of its high accuracy.
Individual patient data meta-analyses are conducted through development of collaboration with trial investigators, central collection and checking of individual patient data of all eligible trials, and pooling of patient data to produce the best estimate of effects of health care interventions. They ensure study data to be update, accessible, reliable and complete so as to minimize the risk of bias, and are the gold standard of systematic reviews addressing effects of health care interventions. Meta-analyses using individual patient data enable higher flexibility of data analyses and more completeness and balance of results interpretation. The study conduct differs between individual patient data versus conventional meta-analyses. This article discussed the steps of conducting individual patient data meta-analyses.
To aim directly at the individualized character and tendency about clinical assessment of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we draw off a new pathway which is evidence-based goal attainment scale(EBGAS) in the text. i.e., we will develop clinical individualized assessment method of TCM on account of GAS by the approach of evidence based medicine.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of multiple minimally invasive therapy and individualized treatments combination in severe acute pancreatitis. Methods The data of sixty-seven patients with severe acute pancreatitis between September 1998 and October 2008 undergoing multiple minimally invasive therapy and individualized treatments were analyzed retrospectively. The changes of APACHE Ⅱ score, CT score, WBC count, total bilirubin, AST, blood glucose, amylase, lypase, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) were observed and compared between before and after treatment. Time of abdominal pain relieved, laparotomy rate, mortality rate, recovery rate, hospital stay, and cost of hospitalization were also observed. Results All the detected indexes improved significantly after treatments compared with those before treatments （Plt;0.001）. Time of abdominal pain relieved was (20.17±14.16) h. Laparotomy rate was 6.0% （4/67）. Mortality rate was 7.5% （5/67）. Recovery rate was 92.5% （62/67）. Hospital stay was (30.85±28.37) d and cost of hospitalization was (59 295.78±34 564.44) yuan. Conclusions Multiple minimally invasive therapy and individualized treatments for cases of severe acute pancreatitis with different causes, course, severity of disease, and complications, could significantly improve the clinical indexes and recovery rate of severe acute pancreatitis.