Objective Through assessing the quality of systematic reviews/meta-analyses conducted by hospital pharmacists in China, to learn relevant situations and to promote the development and application of evidence-based pharmacy in hospital. Methods The following databases such as CBM, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP, CMCI, The Cochrane Library, EMbase and PubMed were searched from the establishment date to April 15th, 2011, to collect all published systematic reviews/meta-analyses conducted by hospital pharmacists in China. Two reviewers independently extracted the published information according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria, and assessed the methodology and reporting quality of the included literatures with OQAQ and PRISMA. Disagreements were discussed or resolved by the third reviewer. Data analysis was conducted by using SPSS17.0 software. Results Two hundred and sixteen Chinese literatures (including 40 on traditional Chinese medicine), and 15 English literatures were identified. The number of literatures has increased rapidly since 2008. Beijing and Sichuan were the top 2 districts in the number of literatures. All of the included literatures were published in 62 magazines sponsored by 87 hospitals, such as China Pharmacy, and Chinese Journey of Evidence-Based Medicine. The total downloads of Chinese literatures were 14346, and the total citations of all literatures were 154. The methodology and reporting quality of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involved in 220 systematic reviews/meta-analyses literatures were assessed, which showed the highest and lowest scores of methodological quality were 6 and 3, respectively, and the average score was 4.27±0.55. The highest and lowest scores of reporting quality were 22.5 and 9, respectively, and the average score was 16.49±2.98. Conclusion Although the evidence-based pharmacy in hospital begins late in China, it develops rapidly, and offers lots of evidence to policy decision, guidelines and rational drug use. However, there is still room for improvement of the methodology and reporting quality in future reviews.
Objective To provide evidence for the definition, current development and prospect of Evidence-based pharmacy through systematically assessing the extant literatures. Methods We searched CBM, VIP, CNKI, PubMed, EMbase, and Google for supplement. We extracted definitions of evidence-based pharmacy, types of studies, published year, topics of studies, and the author information from the included studies. We compared the definitions on different domains, and assessed the current development of evidence-based pharmacy literature. Results a) The definition of evidence-based pharmacy: We found 4 definitions, and there were great differences among them on the people who practiced evidence-based pharmacy as well as the methods and areas of the practice. b) The evidence-based pharmacy literature: 12 English and 202 Chinese articles were included in the review. The number of Chinese evidence-based pharmacy articles was increasing annually, especially in recent 3 years; Most of their authors were from hospitals, especially from pharmacy department; Their study orientations mostly involved clinical pharmacy and hospital pharmacy; The topics mainly refered to the practice and development of clinical pharmacy, rational drug use, and development of hospital pharmacy. Conclusion a) There is yet no consensus on the definition of evidence-based pharmacy. b) Few researchers worldwide know or show interest in evidence-based pharmacy, while, so far, more and more researchers are getting to know evidence-based pharmacy in China. c) Further efforts should be made to develop the theoretical system of evidence-based pharmacy and the pattern of its practice.
Objective To analyze acupuncture resources in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). Methods We identified acupuncture literature from CDSR (2008 year) electronically. W analyzed this literature by research time date, author, study contents, and conCochrane Library usions. Results We initially found 82 articles. Finally, we identified 67 systematic reviews. The number of acupuncture articles has increased all over the world with higher growth rate in China than overseas. The disease spectrum of acupuncture treatment increased widely, focusing on nervous system diseases and pain diseases. Eight articles (25.8%) definitely supported the efficacy of acupuncture. Twenty two articles (71%) considered the efficacy of acupuncture as uncertain owning to insufficient evidence. Just one article expressed that acupuncture treatment was ineffective according to current evidence.
Objective To provide references for production and dissemination of evidence in the fields of medical emergency management, treatment, and prevention of epidemics after May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake by systematically reviewing, analyzing, and comparing quake related papers in medical journals. Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE and CBM (Chinese Biomedical Literature) databases (range: from inception to Sept. 2009). Quake related papers were imported into EndNote software, checked for duplication, and categorized by predefined standards. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 13.0. Results There were relatively fewer quake related articles globally before the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake, and the quantity of papers in MEDLINE was four times than that in CBM. In contrast, the quantity of Chinese quake articles increased rapidly after Wenchuan earthquake, peaking in Aug. 2008 at 6.9 times the average during the 50 years before the quake. The quake related papers in CBM appeared in 378 journals covering a diverse range of subject matter. Meanwhile, there was little change in the quantity of quake related articles in MEDLINE database. Conclusions The effort of producing and disseminating Wenchuan earthquake related medical research has been effectively organized and conducted in a scientific and timely manner, producing the largest in number of quake related medical papers in human history. It has provided first-hand guidance for disaster medical relief around the globe. We should strengthen the systematic construction of disaster medicine, and make an effort to summarize and disseminate evidence in the fields of rehabilitation, system reestablishment, and prevention of epidemics.
Objective To assess the quality reports on acupuncture in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. Methods MEDLINE, CBM, CMCC and CNKI from 1994 to 2006 were searched electronically. Handsearching was also done. The retrieved articles were assessed in terms of several factors, including the type of clinical research, methodology, diagnostic criteria, inclusion/exclusion criteria, effectiveness measurements, calculation of sample size, follow-up, etc. Results Among the 109 included articles, only 6 were true randomized controlled trials. There were 17 quasi-randomized controlled trials, 13 non-randomized concurrent controlled trials, 1 case-control study and 63 narrative studies. 29 of the reports clearly described the diagnostic criteria, 14 mentioned the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 79 reported the effectiveness measurements, none mentioned the calculation of sample size, 24 reported the follow-up outcomes, and only 1 mentioned adverse reactions. Conclusion More prospective, multicenter, large-scale, high-quality randomised trials are needed, and recommendations should also be made for future evaluations of methodological quality.
Objective To reveal the worldwide research status and hot topics of sleep apnea syndrome ( SAS) . Methods Articles were searched from Web of Science ( SCI) , Essential Science Indicator ( 2000 to 2010) database using sleep apnea syndrome or apnea as keywords. Retrieved documents were analyzed using the database with its own statistical functions and histcite software ( version 8.12. 16) .Results Since 1992 the international scientific papers on the SAS study showed a gradual upward trend.The United States is a world leader in this field. Recent research has focused on vascular endothelial barrier function and repair, oxidative stress, inflammation, cognitive function, special populations such as the elderlyor children patients with SAS. Conclusion Clinical researchers have paid more attention to SAS than before, but there are still many important issues unresolved.
Objective To investigate the effects of gefitinib in the treatment of sarcomatoid carcinoma. Methods Clinical data of a case of sarcomatoid carcinoma was analyzed and related literatures were reviewed.Results A patient with sarcomatoid carcinoma was admitted with progressive dry cough,chest pain and dyspnea for 3 months. The patient was diagnosed as lung sarcomatoid carcinoma by thoracoscopy and treated with gefitinib. After 2 weeks treatment, symptoms disappeared and tumor was stable for 4 months. Literatures review suggested that sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor. Treatment of sarcomatoid carcinoma includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but these methods show little effect in advanced patients. In our case, the patient with sarcomatoid carcinoma in stage Ⅳ was treated by gefitinib and showed favourable effect. Conclusions Advanced sarcomatoid carcinoma patients have a short life span and poor life quality. Gefitinib may provide these patients a feasible therapeutic approach.
Objective To assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for treating acute migraine attacks. Methods With the searching terms of acupuncture and migraine, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR), PubMed, MEDLINE, EMbase, CBM, CMCC, CNKI and VIP were searched. The reports quality of the included trials, including the quality of methodology, diagnostic criteria, inclusion/exclusion criteria, acupuncture/control interventions, outcome measures, observing time, and adverse effects reports, was evaluated. Results A total 23 RCTs involving 2645 patients were included, of which only 3 RCTs were of high quality with Jadad scores equal to or more than 4. At present, only a few high quality trials on treating acute attacks of migraine with acupuncture had been reported at home and abroad. The international recognized diagnostic criteria and common evaluation methods had not been used generally, and the design of control was kind of irrational. Conclusion Based on current clinical reports, acupuncture may be effective in the management of acute migraine attacks, but some relevant proof is still required. The further domestic studies should be designed strictly following the international recommended diagnosis and evaluation criteria of migraine, and rational control methods as well.
With the flourishing career of scientific research, the number of medical literature is in the explosion of growth. According to the statistics revealed by the Royal Society in March 2011, it showed that the proportion of published literature in China increased from 4.4% at the beginning of this century to 12.2%, and leaped into the second rank of the world. But the citations lagged behind the growth in number. In addition, the quality of medical literature relates to the reliability of results. Therefore, how to evaluate and improve the quality of medical literature is important. This paper will present some evaluation methods of credible medical literatures.
Objective To discover the similarities and differences between CBM and MEDLINE databases in the field of post-earthquake health issue research characteristics in order to provide references and aids to the scientific research administration, professional education and training, research subjects selection and project finance support. Methods CBM and MEDLINE databases (from January 1987 to December 2009) were systematically searched to obtain literature about post-earthquake health issues. Those studies were classified and compared by the characteristics of research objects, health issues, research periods, and types of study design. Results A total of 701 literature from CBM and 387 from MEDLINE were included. MEDLINE database provided more studies focusing on victims of natural calamities with specific age description than CBM (Plt;0.05). Research peak of CBM database centralized in the period of three months after earthquake (n=645, 92%), while MEDLINE was three years after the earthquake (n=191, 87.2%). Studies from both databases similarly focused on physical trauma and psychiatric/psychological issues (two types of health issues in total: CBM: n=727, 86.1%; MEDLINE: n=358, 83.4%). Investigations from CBM were primarily designed for retrospective and descriptive research (n=439, 62.6%), cross-sectional investigations (n=146, 20.8%) and case report (n=86, 12.3%) while MEDLINE focalized on cross-sectional investigations (n=177, 45.7%) and retrospective and descriptive research (n=146, 37.7%). Conclusion Compared to MEDLINE, studies from CBM database are relatively weak in the post-earthquake health issues of population with specific age characters, long-term health issues, levels of evidence and types of research design. The possible reasons are insufficient attention to the post-earthquake health issues, inadequate preparation for the research or limited knowledge about research methods.