Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of teaching evidence-based medicine (EBM). Methods 1. Introducing EBM teaching material in Chinese. 2. Offering EBM course in medical college of Sichuan University. 3. Problem-based,self-directed teaching methods. 4. A variety of test method. Results 36 Cochrane systematic review titles were registered, 17 Cochrane systematic review protocols were published in Cochrane Library, 6 Cochrane systematic reviews were published in Cochrane Library. 62 EBM research papers were published on Chinese Journal of EBM. Feedback of teaching EBM from postgraduates: 77.6%, 22.4% postgraduates consider this EBM course is very helpful and helpful for them respectively; 14.3%, 80% postgraduates achieve completely the goal and achieve the goal in greater part by this EBM course respectively; the reason of not achieving the goal is a lack of time to read and attend the course. 61.2%-80% and 16.3%-32.7% postgraduates consider the teaching contents is very good and good respectively; 61.2%-75.5% and 12.3%-28.6% postgraduates consider this teaching model is very good and good respectively; 44.9% postgraduates hope to increase hours of EBM course, increase discusses, increase EBM practice in future; 10.2% postgraduates consider the questions of test are hard to solve. Conclusion This EBM course is effective.
Objective To assess the efficacy of lamivudine in patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B.Methods MEDLINE, SCI, Current Content Connect, The Cochrane Library, and Chinese Biomedical Database were searched from the beginning to September 2005, and the references of eligible studies were manually screened. R.andomized controlled trials comparing lamivudine with non-antiviral interventions （ placebo, no treatment and standard care ） in patients with chronic hepatitis B were eligible for inclusion. Two investigators independently assessed the quality and extracted the data. Heterogeneity was examined by Chi-square test. Fixed and random effect meta-analysis were used to pool the data. Subgroup analyses were used in treatment course. Results Eleven R.CTs were included （ n = 1 237 ）. All reported the effect of lamivudine （100 mg/d） , and one of them included lamivudine （25 mg/d）. The treatment duration of 52 weeks and less than 26 weeks were reported in eight and three RCTs, respectively. Six RCTs adequately applied randomization, while other five RCTs were not reported in detail. Four RCTs adequately enforced allocation concealment, five RCTs enforced blinding bitterly. The others were not reported in detail. It was found by meta-analysis that, compared with the control, lamivudine （100 mg/d, 52 W） could significantly clear HBeAg [42.6% vs. 13% , RR 3.20, 95% CI （2.33, 4. 38）] and clearHBVDNA [71.78% vs. 20, 36%, RR3.42, 95%CI （2.80,4.19）], normalize ALT [65% vs. 34.9%, RR1.91, 95%CI （1.64,2.21）], achieve HBeAgseroconversion [16.1% vs. 7.29% , RR2.12, 95%CI （1.24,3.80） ] and histology response [57. 9% vs. 26.2%, RR 2. 17, 95% CI （ 1.67,2.81 ） ] ; Lanfivudine （100 mg/ d, 12 W） could effectively clear HBV DNA [ 50.7% vs 3.92% , RR 8.68, 95% CI （1.72,43.74 ） ] , but was not effective in loss of HBeAg, HBeAg seroconversion and normalization of ALT, Lamivudine （25 mg/d） could effectively clear HBV DNA [97.7% vs. 22.2% , RR 4.41, 95% CI （2.86,6.79） ] and improve histology response [59.3% vs. 30% , RR1.98, 95% CI （1.31,2.99 ） ], but was not effective in HBeAg seroconversion. Conclusions Lamivudine （100 mg/ d） is effective in clearing HBV DNA and HBeAg, normalizing ALT and achieving HBeAg seroconversion.
Xenotansplantation has become a global focus because it may solve the formidable problems in allotransplantation, that is, the donor source. Hitherto clinical xenotransplantion has been in the stage of research with limited cases and unsatisfactory results. The difficulties which hinder the progress of xenotransplantation include: the ideal animal donor has not been found, it is rather difficult to control the rejections (hyperacute rejection, acute vascular rejection, perhaps acute cellular rejection and chronic rejection) after xenotransplantation compared with those after allotransplantation, some animal diseases might be transmitted to and do harm to human recipients, even the community. It is still unknown whether the functions of animal organs can substitute those of human organs permanently. Transgenic pigs on research and various measurements to suppress humoral and cellular immunity may be helpful in overcoming the problems of xenogeneic rejections. Animal diseases should be prevented, screened and treated, and animal models should be established to study the possibility of satisfactory working of animal organs in human body before clinical xenotransplantation is widely practised.
Limitation of donor source for allograft makes the research on xenograft progress. Pig is regarded as one of the ideal donor animals. The major obstacle in xenograft is hyperacute rejection, which is caused by complements after they are activated by xenogeneic antigens combined with natural antibodies. It has been confirmed that alpha-Gal is the major target antigen, whose expression is incharged by alpha-1,3 galactosyltransferase (alpha-GT). The approaches to overcome hyperacute rejection against alpha-Gal included: immunoadsorption of xenogeneic natural antibodies, lysis of antigen by enzyme and genetic manupilation to obtain animal lack of alpha-GT. Besides alpha-Gal, there were other antigens binding to human serum antibody, such as gp65 and gp100, which was expressed on PAEC after induced by TNF, the A-like antigen. But their function was still unknown. It was debatable on the role of MHC in xenograft. Both direct and indirect pathway were involved in cellular response in xenograft.
The worldwide shortage in the supply of donor organs and tissues is becoming more pronounced. Xenotransplantation may probably give the hope to overcome the problem ultimately. However, it gives rise to a number of social and ethical issues, among them, the pig appears to be a likely source for human transplantation because it entails least social and ethical issues than no-human primates or other animals and the pig is similar to human in many aspects. The ethical and economic aspects must also be taken into consideration. Patient and his family’s privacy may be stripped because the patient has received a new or unusual treatment. Xenograftings will squint towards a kind of commodities which are different from human graftings and it is a challenge to human transplantation. Xenotransplantation brings a risk of creating new human disease and pandemic, so, it is necessary to formulate a policy and provide input to draft guidelines on the regulation of xenotransplantation.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of collagenase for intervertebral disk hernia, to facilitate the rational selection of the most appropriate therapy. Methods We searched the following electronic databases: Medline (1966 to May 2006), EMbase (1966 to May 2006), The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2006), CRD (Center for Reviews and Dissemination, York University), CBM (1978 to May 2006), CNKI (1994 to 2006), and VIP (1989 to 2006). RCTs or quasi-RCTs were included. RevMan 4.2 was used for statistical analysis. Results Six RCTs and one quasi-RCT involving 829 participants were included. One study showed that the short-term effective rate was similar between chemonucleolysis (CNL) and percutaneous laser dise decompression (PLDD), but the long-term effective rate of PLDD was superior to that of CNL (RR 0.35, 95%CI 0.13 to 0.96). One study revealed that the short- and long-term effective rate of CNL were higher than those of placebo (Plt;0.05). Two studies comparing collagenase vs chymopaain were heterogeneous: one indicated that chymopapain was superior to collagenase according to ITT analysis (Plt;0.05); but the other revealed no significant difference among the high- and low-dose collagenase groups and chymopapain group (Pgt;0.05). One trial showed that the effective rate between collagenase and automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy (APLD) was not significantly different (Pgt;0.05). The overall results of CNL vs Triamcinolone Acetonide showed no significant difference, but significant difference was found among patients with different types of intervertebral disk hernia. One study showed that CNL was superior to Prednisolone. Three studies reported adverse effects, mainly involving pain, neurologic deficit, cauda equina syndrome and allergic reaction amongst others. Conclusions No adequate evidence shows which therapy is more effective for intervertebral disk hernia. More high-quality trials are required.
Objective To critically appraise and systematically reviewe the economic evaluations of all alternative interventions for hepatitis B in China. Methods We searched MEDLINE and the four largest Chinese electronic databases. The references of eligible studies were also screened. Economic evaluations of any type, which studied interventions for hepatitis B, were eligible for inclusion. A 25-item quality checklist modified from a BMJ checklist was used to appraise the quality of studies. The overall quality score was calculated against 100 points to indicate the risk of bias. Quality appraisal and data extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers. Results Nineteen full economic evaluations and two cost studies were included of which fourteen studies were scored 25-44 points, and seven scored 45-61 points. Most studies adequately documented effectiveness of interventions. However, the costs of interventions were not well reported in over 50% of studies. Many studies inadequately conducted data analysis, particular in sensitivity analysis and discounting. Ten studies compared lamivudine with interferon or conventional therapy for 1-year (or 6-month) effects, which indicated that lamivudine was generally cost-effective. Three evaluations studied 30-year outcomes of interferon compared with conventional therapy, which suggested that interferon usually saved additional costs and years of life. Another three studies compared interferon with less frequently used antiviral agents, however the comparative cost-effectiveness varied. Two cost studies showed the total costs and the percentage of medical costs increased rapidly in proportion to disease severity.Conclusions Of alternative interventions, lamivudine is cost effective for short-term effects. Interferon is superior to conventional therapy for long-term outcomes. However, the long-term economic outcomes cannot be justified by the current evidence. Quality of methods, particularly, that of costing and analytical methods, is a major limitation. There remains a b need to improve the quality of reporting. Careful considerations should be paid before applying the results to decision making.