Object To collect and summarize high quality clinical evidence on the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in health care generally. Method We searched MEDLINE (1980-2006), The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2006) and the China Biomedicine Database (1982-2006) for systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials. The quality of included studies was critically evaluated. Result Thirteen systematic reviews (12 Cochrane reviews) on HBO were included. Results showed that HBO had some beneficial effect on acute coronary syndrome, ischemic stroke, multiple sclerosis, malignant otitis externa, idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. It might also promote chronic wound healing and relieve radiation damage.Conclusions Since the avaliable randomized controlled trials for the systematic reviews we included are too small, further well-designed multicentre large-scale trials are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of HBO .
Objective To compare and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of irinotecan (IRI) versus oxaplatin (OXA), in combination with 5-FU/LV for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Methods The literature search, study selection and assessment, data collection and analysis were undertaken by two reviewers according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs comparing IRI versus OXA, in combination with 5-FU/LV in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer were collected. Results Seven studies involving 2107 patients were included. The OXA/5-FU/LV regimen was superior or at least equal to the IRI/5-FU/LV regimen in prolonging overall survival and time to progression. The OXA/5-FU/LV regimen showed a higher response rate and was associated with lower toxicities. Conclusion Compared with IRI, OXA is more appropriate for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer when combined with 5-FU/LV.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) compared with TACE alone, in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CANCERLIT, CBM, CNKI and VIP were searched electronically. Relevant journals and conference proceedings were also handsearched. The quality of included studies was assessed according to the criteria recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, and meta-analyses were performed for homogeneous studies using The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2.10 software. Subgroup analyses by frequency of TACE (lt;3 or ≥3 times) were also performed. Results Thirty seven trials, all published in China, involving 2 653 participants were included. The quality of 2 studies was graded B (medium) and that of the other 35 was graded C (low). Meta-analyses showed that TCM plus TACE, compared with TACE alone, could significantly improve survival, tumor response (complete and partial), quality of life and clinical symptoms, and was also associated with a lower incidence of adverse reactions. Subgroup analyses indicated that, patients with less than three TACE had more significant improvement in survival and clinical symptoms, while patients with three or more TACE had more significant improvement in tumor response and quality of life. The incidence of adverse reactions was similar between these two different frequencies of TACE. Conclusions The treatment regimen of TCM plus TACE is superior to TACE alone in patients with unresectable HCC. As the existing data have a high risk of bias, the current evidence is insufficient to define the efficacy of the combination treatment, and further large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of gabexate mesylate in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography （ERCP） pancreatitis （PEP）. Methods The literatures and corresponding references of randomized controlled trials （RCT） on gabexate mesylate in the prevention of PEP were searched from Cochrane library （1970 to December 2010），PubMed （1966 to December 2010），EMBASE （1966 to December 2010），and CBM （1978 to December 2010）.Literature screening，data extraction and methodological quality assessment were individually performed by two researchers.The software RevMan 4.2 of Cochrane Collaboration was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 11 trails involving 3 012 patients were included. Meta analysis showed that high dose （≥1 000 mg）of gabexate mesylate with slow intravenous infusion （≥12 h） could effectively prevent from PEP （OR=0.27，95%CI： 0.11-0.64, P=0.003） and post-ERCP abdominal pain （OR=0.44，95%CI： 0.25-0.79，P=0.005） when compared with placebo. The low dose （≤500 mg） of gabexate mesylate with quick intravenous infusion （≤6.5 h） could not effectively prevent from PEP （OR=0.85, 95%CI： 0.59-1.34, P=0.570），post-ERCP hyperamylasemia （OR=0.86，95%CI： 0.69-1.07，P=0.180），and post-ERCP abdominal pain （OR=0.66，95%CI： 0.32-1.35，P=0.250）.When compared gabexate mesylate with ulinastatin, there was no statistical difference between them in the prevention of PEP （OR=1.57，95%CI： 0.39-6.24，P=0.520） and post-ERCP hyperamylasemia （OR=1.85, 95%CI： 0.83-4.13，P=0.130）. Conclusions The high dose （≥1 000 mg） of gabexate mesylate with slow intravenous infusion （≥12 h） other than low dose （≤500 mg） with quick intravenous infusion （≤6.5 h） is effective to prevent from PEP and post-ERCP abdominal pain，and can also prevent from post-ERCP hyperamylasemia to some extent.The effect which ulinastatin prevents PEP and post-ERCP hyperamylasemia is same to gabexate mesylate.The above conclusions remain to confirm by RCT with large sample and long-term follow-up of high-quality.
Objective To evaluate the subjective outcomes of sleepiness behavior and mood status applying continuous positive airway pressure（CPAP） in adults of elderly and middle-aged with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome（OSAS）. Methods Nine randomized controlled trails comparing nocturnal CPAP with inactive control appliances in adults with OSAS with the use of computerized search in related medical databases（MEDLINE，EMBASE，CBMdisk，etc） were included.The quality of literature was reviewed，and all data were extracted by two reviewers independently.Meta analysis was conducted used RevMan 4.2 software.Results 9 RCT involving 665 patients of elderly and middle-aged met the inclusion criteria.Meta analysis indicated that the score of Epworth sleepiness scale（ESS） and general health questionnaire-28（GHQ-28） declined significantly after CPAP treatment on effectiveness with WMD（random） －2.94，95 %CI －4.68 to －1.20，or WMD（fixed） －2.26，95 %CI －3.79 to －0.72，Plt;0.01.Nevertheless，hospital anxiety and depression scale（HADS） was not significantly different between CPAP and control with WMD（random） －0.89，95%CI －1.98 to 0.20，Pgt;0.05.Conclusion Current clinical evidence suggested that CPAP was effective in improving day-time subjective outcomes of sleepiness behavior and general mental health status in OSAS patients of elderly and middle-aged，although evidence of improving emotion disorder of anxiety and depression was not confirmed.
Objective To compare the effects of high and low positive end-expiratory pressure( PEEP) levels on mortality and risk of barotrauma in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS) . Methods Randomized controlled trials ( RCTs) were recruited from PubMed( 1966-2008. 9) ,EMBASE( 1980-2008. 9) , Cochrane Database ( Issue 2, 2008) , Chinese Cochrane Centre Database and CBMdisc ( 1978-2008. 9) . Related published and unpublished data and attached references were hand searched. All RCTs about ventilation with PEEP for patients with ARDS were included, then a systematic review were performed. Results Five eligible trials were enrolled in the systematic review. According to ventilation strategy, all trials were divided into subgroup A( low tidal volumes + high PEEP vs traditional tidal volumes + low PEEP) and subgroup B( low tidal volumes + high PEEP vs low tidal volumes + low PEEP) . In subgroup A, high PEEP was associated with a lower mortality[ RR 0. 59, 95%CI( 0. 43, 0. 82) ] and a lower prevalence of barotraumas [ RR 0. 24, 95% CI( 0. 09, 0. 70) ] in patients with ARDS. In subgroup B, the difference in mortality[ RR 0. 97, 95%CI( 0. 83, 1. 13) ] and barotraumas[ RR 1. 13, 95% CI( 0. 78, 1. 63) ]were not significant. Conclusions As compared with conventional ventilation, low tidal volumes and high PEEP ventilation strategy is associated with improved survival and a lower prevalence of barotraumas in patients with ARDS. It is necessary to further confirm the role of sole high PEEP in the ventilation strategy.
Objective To evaluate systematically the effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin ( PCT) -guided therapy in comparison with standard therapy in patients with suspected or confirmed severe bacterial infections in intensive care unit ( ICU) . Methods Five randomized controlled trials ( 927 patients) were included for statistical analysis by the cochrane collaboration′s RevMan5. 0 software. Results PCT-guided therapy was associated with a significant reduction in duration of antibiotic therapy [ MD =- 2. 01, 95% CI ( - 2. 37, - 1. 64) , P lt;0. 00001] , but the mortality [ OR =1. 11, 95% CI ( 0. 83, 1. 49) ,P =0. 47] and length of ICU stay[ MD = 0. 49, 95% CI( - 1. 44, 2. 42) , P = 0. 62] were not significantly different. Conclusions An algorithmbased on serial PCT measurements would allow a more judicious use of antibiotics than currently traditional treatment of patients with severe infections in ICU. It can reduce the use of antibiotics and appears to be safe.
Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of montelukast in the treatment of acute asthma in adults.Methods Randomized controlled trials ( RCTs) of montelukast in the treatment of acute asthma compared with placebo were searched in Pubmed, Embase, OVID, and Cochrane Library. The quality of included RCTs was evaluated and the data were extracted. Meta-analyses were performed with RevMan 5. 1 software, and the GRADE system was applied to rate the level of evidence and strength of recommendation. Results Five RCTs ( n = 947) were included. Meta-analyses showed that montelukast could statistically improve peak expiratory flow ( PEF) ( MD = 10. 65 [ 2. 81, 18. 49] , P = 0. 008) , reduce the number of patients with oral corticosteroids ( RR=0. 75[ 0. 62, 0. 92] , NNT= 7[ 4, 46] , P =0. 005) , but there were no statistical differences in decreasing the number of patients with hospitalizations ( RR= 0. 78[ 0. 57, 1. 06] , NNT = 19[ 9, + ∞] , P = 0. 110) and treatment failure ( RR = 0. 85[ 0. 67, 1. 09] , NNT=17[ 9, +∞] , P =0. 314) compared with the placebo. Based on GRADE, the level of evidence was low or moderate, and the strength of recommendation was weak. Conclusion Our study suggests montelukast can improve the lung function and reduce the use of systematic corticosteroids in acute asthma, but the potency to reduce the number of patients with hospitalization and treatment failure need to be explored in future.
Objective?To assess the effectiveness and safety of diclofenac, one of the routine-used NSAIDs, in preventing post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP). Methods Firstly, the electronic searches were conducted to retrieve Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, OVID, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data. Secondly, 12 kinds of specific Chinese journals like Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology and conference proceedings were hand-searched till June 2011, and all references in all included trials were searched, too. The RCTs on diclofenac for preventing PEP were identified and retrieved. The systematic review was conducted by using methods and principles recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Results A total of 5 RCTs involving 675 PEP patients were included. The Meta-analysis showed that diclofenac might reduce the incidence of PEP (OR=0.41, 95%CI 0.18 to 0.95, P=0.04), but the sensitivity analysis indicated this result was not stable. No evidence showed diclofenac could reduce the incidence of severe PEP (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.08 to 2.06, P=0.27). And no adverse reactions related to the drug were reported. Conclusion Diclofenac may be safe and effective in reducing the incidence of PEP, but it has no significant effect on preventing severe PEP. Considering the methodological and scale limitation of included studies, this conclusion still needs to be proved by more large-scale and high-quality RCTs.
Objective To Evaluation of Accuracy and Quality of Diagnostic Test of CEA for the Diagnosis of NSCLC in Chinese Patients. Methods We searched Chinese Biological Medicine Database (CBM, 1978 to 2009) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, 1994 to 2009). Diagnostic tests of CEA for the diagnosis of NSCLC were included. Data were extracted, and the quality of included studies was evaluated according to the six criteria of diagnostic tests. The heterogeneity test and The Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic (SROC) curve and meta-analyses were performed by MetaDisc. Results A total of 84 relevant articles were retrieved and 11 were included in our review. Eleven studies involving 925 patients (861 NSCLC patients, all diagnosed by the gold standard) were included. Meta-analyses showed that the heterogeneity among studies was high (P=0.000 2, I2=69.1%), the pooled sensitivity was 0.542 and the pooled specificity was 0.869. Subgroup analyses indicated that 5 of the studies which used the ECLIA (P=0.376, I2=5.4%, AUC= 0.748 3) and 4 of the studies which lung adenocarcinoma (P=0.186, I2=37.6%, AUC=0.900 2) and 4 of the studies which lung squamous cell carcinoma (P=0.955，I2=0.00%, AUC=0.762 0) had no heterogeneity. serum CEA is low sensitive and high specific on the diagnosis of NSCLC. The sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy rate of CEA were higher in adenocarcionoma than squamous cell cance. Conclusion CEA could be regarded as one of the reference tests in patients with NSCLC, Serum CEA is more sensitive and specific than lung squamous cell carcinoma on lung adenocarcinoma. but more high quality trials are required.