The results of clinical studies are usually described with statistical data. When we conduct systematic reviews of clinical studies it is important that the statistical methods used in the original research are evaluated. By doing so, we can assess the validity and reliability of the evidence.
Objective To define an evidence-based conclusion concerning ultrasound screening for fetal genital system malformations during pregnancy. Methods In order to assess whether or not ultrasound screening for fetal genital system malformations is effective and feasible, we searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2009), MEDLINE (1981 to 2009), ACP Journal Club (1991 to 2008), and BMJ Clinical Evidence (1999 to 2008) for systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and controlled clinical trials. Results Five cohort studies and three crosssectional studies were retrieved. The results showed ultrasound screening detected fetal sex determination by the contour of the rump and the angle of the genital tubercle to a horizontal line through the lumbosacral skin surface in the first trimester. Scrotal size and penile length increases with gestational age for male fetuses, and by 32 weeks, bilateral testicular descent was observed in most cases. Ultrasonographic scans, fetal genetic studies, and hormonal assays of amniotic fluid can diagnosis certain diseases, fetal sex differentiation disorders, fetal endocrinal disorders, and chromosome abnormality. Conclusion The findings of this study should reassure physicians and parents alike that ultrasound screening is an reliable option for the prenatal diagnosis of fetal genital system malformations, but more randomized controlled trials are needed to further supply relevant evidence.
Objective To study the effect of myofibroblast on the development of pathological scar. Methods From 1998 to 2000， 14 cases of keloid(k), 13 cases of hypertrophic scar(HS), and 7 cases of scar were studied through immunohistochemistry and electronical microscope. Results Myofibroblasts were often observed in the hypertrophic HS by electronical microscope, but no myofibroblast was observed in the K and NS. αSMactin was expressed in fibroblast of HS, but was not expressed in K and NS. Conclusion Myofibroblast may play a role in the development of hypertrophic scar. The difference between the absence of myofibroblast in keloid and the invasion of keloid deserves further study.
Objective To formulate an evidence-based conclusion concerning ultrasound screening for fetal malformations for a pregnant woman after 12 gestational weeks. Methods Based on the clinical problem of whether pregnant women need ultrasound screening for fetal malformations after 11-14 gestational weeks, we used “ultrasound or sonography and prenatal or fetal at first trimester or 11-14 weeks; ultrasound exposure; fetal development” as the keywords and searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2008), MEDLINE (1981 to 2008), ACP Journal Club (1991 to 2008), and BMJ Clinical Evidence (1999 to 2008) for systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed to identify the current best evidence. Results Three systematic reviews, two RCTs and ten cohort studies were retrieved. The results showed ultrasound screening detected different fetal malformations in the first, second and third trimester. Not all of the fetal malformations could be detected through prenatal ultrasound screening. Nuchal translucency (NT) measurement as a tool for screening chromosomally abnormal fetuses and detecting fetal malformations by ultrasound proved to be effective if performed within 11-14 gestational weeks. The routine second trimester screening, however, could not be replaced by a detailed ultrasound examination at 11-14 gestational weeks. Most of the trials concluded that the effect of ultrasound on a fetus was not harmful. Conclusion The findings of this study should reassure physicians and parents alike that ultrasound screening is an appropriate option for the pregnant women after 12 gestational weeks.
Objective To study the clinical value ofNa＋/I－ symporter (NIS) expression on thyroid carcinoma diagnosis and 131I therapeutic effects prediction. Methods Thirty-one cases of thyroid carcinomas enrolled in this hospital from 1998 to 2006 were included. Using immunohistochemical method, NIS expression location, positive cell staining and expression intensity were observed, which was calculated by immunohistochemical scores (IHS) and NIS expression level was compared between primary and metastatic carcinoma. Results NIS was over-expressed on the basolateral membrane in positive control——Grave disease tissue, and showed no staining in negative control. NIS was expressed in cytoplasm in all 31 primary carcinomas, and IHS was over or equaled to 4 in 80.65% of them. Except for 2 no staining, NIS was expressed in cytoplasm in the rest 28 metastatic carcinomas. NIS expression was related to the pathological type of thyroid carcinoma, the best in PTC, then FTC, and the weakest in fvPTC. NIS expression in metastatic carcinoma was related to that in primary carcinoma.Conclusion NIS is over-expressed in cytoplasm in most thyroid carcinoma, and the iodide uptaking defect is mainly due to its wrong location. It has great potential to be applied in clinic by that it can help with the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid diseases, especially between FTA and FTC, and that it can help predict the therapeutic effects of 131I therapy following thyroid operation.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol and sodium phosphate in bowel preparation of capsule endoscopy. Methods We searched CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data, PubMed, EMbase, and The Cochrane Library (Issue 6, 2016) up to June 2016, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about polyethylene glycol and sodium phosphate in bowel preparation of capsule endoscopy. Two reviewers independently screened literatures, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies, and then meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of six RCTs involving 531 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: compared with the sodium phosphate solution group, the polyethylene glycol solution group had poor intestinal cleansing effect (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.21 to 0.88,P=0.02), higher incidence of adverse reaction (OR=3.20, 95%CI 1.13 to 9.06,P=0.03); but shorter gastric retention time (OR=–11.61, 95%CI –13.71 to –9.51,P<0.000 01) and residence time in the small intestine (OR=–4.17, 95%CI –7.74 to –0.60,P=0.02). Conclusion The efficacy of oral polyethylene glycol is poor in cleaning effect and adverse reaction than sodium phosphate solution, but better in the digestive tract residence time for capsule endoscopy. Due to the limited quality and quantity of included studies, the above conclusion is still needed to be proved by more high-quality studies.
ObjectiveTo analyze the relation between the place of residence of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and patient compliance or regimen decision-making or outcomes for neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in the current version of the Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA). MethodsThe version of DACCA selected for this analysis was updated on June 29, 2022. The patients were enrolled according to the established screening criteria and then assigned into inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups as well as inside and outside of Chengdu City groups. The differences in the patient compliance or regimen decision-making or outcomes (changes of symptom and imaging, and cancer marker carcinoembryonic antigen) for NAT were analyzed. ResultsA total of 3 574 data that met the screened criteria were enrolled, 3 142 (87.91%) and 432 (12.09%) were inside of Sichuan Province group and outside of Sichuan Province group, respectively; 1 340 (42.65%) and 1 802 (57.35%) were inside of Chengdu City group and outside of Chengdu City group in Sichuan Province, respectively. ① The constituent ratios of the patient compliance for NAT had no statistical differences between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=0.299, P=0.585) as well as between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=3.109, P=0.078). ② In terms of the impact of the place of residence on the decision-making of NAT: For the patients with targeted therapy or not, there was a statistical difference between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=5.047, P=0.025), but which had no statistical difference between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=0.091, P=0.762); For the patients with radiotherapy or not, there were no statistical differences in the constituent ratios of patients between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups as well as between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=2.215, P=0.137; χ2=2.964, P=0.085); For the neoadjuvant intensity, there was a statistical difference between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=12.472, P=0.002), but which had no statistical difference between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=2.488, P=0.288). ③ The outcomes for NAT: The changes of carcinoembryonic antigen had no statistical differences between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups as well as between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (H=1.762, P=0.184; H=3.531, P=0.060); In the symptom changes, there was a statistical difference between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=3.896, P=0.048), which had no statistical difference between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=0.016, P=0.900); In the image changes, the difference was statistically significant between the inside and outside of Chengdu City groups (χ2=7.975, P=0.005), but which had no statistical difference between the inside and outside of Sichuan Province groups (χ2=0.063, P=0.802). ConclusionsThrough data analysis in DACCA in this study, it is found that there are no statistical differences in compliance and carcinoembryonic antigen changes. However, decision-making of NAT for patients of inside and outside of Sichuan Province has different choices on whether to assist targeted therapy and chemotherapy intensity for NAT; Symptom changes of NAT in patients of inside of Sichuan Province has a better effect than in patients of outside of Sichuan Province; Imaging change of NAT in patients of inside of Chengdu City has a better effect than in patients of outside of Chengdu City.
Objective To analyze the relationship between the residence and oncological characteristics of colorectal patients served by Sichuan University West China Hospital as a regional center in the current version of the Database from Colorectal Cancer (DACCA). Methods The DACCA version selected for this data analysis was the updated version on January 5, 2022. The data items analyzed included: residence, precancerous lesions, family history of cancer, tumor location, tumor morphology, tumor orientation, tumor pathology, tumor differentiation and preoperative TNM staging. According to the regional distribution of colorectal cancer patients' residence in the database, they were divided into Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group, and the Sichuan group was further divided into Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group. Results The DACCA database was filtered by conditions to obtain 7 232 valid data. ① The composition ratio of precancerous lesions in different places of residence: The difference between the Sichuan group and the non-Sichuan group was statistically significant (χ2=14.462, P=0.003), and the difference between the Sichuan-Chengdu group and the Sichuan-non-Chengdu group was not statistically significant (χ2=7.591, P=0.101). ② Composition ratio of family history of cancer in different places of residence: In the family history of cancer in oneself, the difference between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group as well as between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group were not statistically significant (χ2=1.121, P=0.606; χ2=1.047, P=0.621). In the family history of cancer in relatives, the differences in the composition ratio of different tumor histories between the Sichuan group and the non-Sichuan group, and between the Sichuan-Chengdu group and the Sichuan-non-Chengdu group were not statistically significant (χ2=0.813, P=0.692; χ2=2.696, P=0.262). ③ Tumor site composition ratios in different places of residence: The difference between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group was not statistically significant (χ2=0.476, P=0.490), and the difference between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group was statistically significant (χ2=36.216, P<0.001). ④ Tumor morphology composition ratio in different places of residence: The difference between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group was statistically significant (χ2=19.560, P<0.001), and the difference between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group was not statistically significant (χ2=5.377, P=0.247). ⑤ Composition ratio of tumor orientation in different places of residence: The differences in composition ratio of tumor orientation between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group and between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group were statistically significant (χ2=17.484, P=0.005; χ2=26.820, P<0.001). ⑥ Composition ratio of tumor pathological properties under different residence: The differences in the comparison of pathological properties between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group as well as between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group of CRC patients were not statistically significant (χ2=8.136, P=0.408; χ2=7.278, P=0.506). ⑦ Composition ratio of tumor differentiation degree under different residence groupings: the differences in the composition ratio of tumors with different degrees of differentiation were not statistically significant between Sichuan group and non-Sichuan group, and between Sichuan-Chengdu group and Sichuan-non-Chengdu group (H=0.289, P=0.591; H=0.156, P=0.693). ⑧ The composition ratio of TNM staging of tumors before operation in different places of residence: between the Sichuan group and the non-Sichuan group, the difference in the composition ratio of preoperative TNM staging of CRC patients was statistically significant (H=8.023, P=0.005); between the Sichuan-Chengdu group and the Sichuan-non-Chengdu group, the difference in the composition ratio of preoperative TNM staging of CRC patients was not statistically significant (H=0.218, P=0.640). Conclusions Data analysis in DACCA reveal multiple associations between the place of residence and oncological characteristics of CRC patients. There are differences in the composition of the types of precancerous lesions among CRC patients in different places of residence. The proportion of CRC is higher in the family history of cancer. In terms of the site of tumor occurrence, the proportion of tumors located in the rectum is higher than that in the colon. In the composition of tumor morphology in all regions, the ulcerative type is the most frequent. The composition of tumor orientation is different in patients with CRC, and those who has involved a circle of the intestinal wall are the most frequent. Most CRC patients are already in middle or late stage when the tumor is discovered, and the proportion of middle or late stage patients in non-Sichuan provinces was even higher.
Objective To explore the feasibility of mean temporal phase images calculated from perfusion CT datasets by using CT perfusion (CTP) of liver on the third-generation dual-source CT. Methods Twenty-two consecutive patients with suspected hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled, we retrospectively compared objective and subjective image quality, leson detectability, and radiation dose between mean temporal arterial (mTA) and mean temporal portal venous (mTPV) images which calculated from perfusion CT datasets with conventional enhanced arterial and portal venous datasets. Results ① Image quality: compared with the conventional enhancement image, the standard deviation (SD) values of CTP images on liver (arterial phase), portal vein (arterial phase), and liver (portal vein phase) were lower (P<0.05); the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values of CTP images on aorta (arterial phase), portal vein (arterial phase), aorta (portal vein phase), and portal vein (portal vein phase) were all higher (P<0.05), the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) value of CTP images on aorta (arterial phase) was higher (P<0.05). ② The subjective image quality: the subjective image quality scores of CTP images (mTA and mTPV images) were higher when compared to responding conventional enhanced arterial and portal venous datasets (P<0.05). ③ The diagnostic efficiency: the CTP images and conventional enhancement images showed all the lesions, but the diagnostic efficiency images of CTP images was better than the conventional enhancement images, both on lesions of blood supply and lack of blood supply (P<0.05). Conclusions The image quality of mTA and mTPV datasets calculated from CTP datasets are non-inferior when compared to conventional enhanced arterial and portal venous acquisitions in patients with suspected hepatic lesions. Thus, CTP could be used as a stand-alone imaging technique without additionally performed conventional arterial and portal venous CT acquisitions.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with Huaier granules in treatment of primary liver cancer (PLC).MethodsThe databases including the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, CNKI, VIP were searched to obtain the relevant literatures of Huaier granule combined with TACE therapy (Huaier+TACE group) and alone TACE therapy (TACE group) in the treatment of PLC. The short-term curative effects (objective response rate and disease control rate), 6 and 12-month survival rates, immune function change, and adverse reactions were extracted. The RevMan 5.3 software was applied to carry out the meta analysis.ResultsFifteen studies involving 1 781 cases were enrolled in this study, of which 876 cases underwent the Huaier+TACE, 905 underwent the TACE. The meta analysis results showed that the objective response rate and disease control rate, 6 and 12-month survival rates of the Huaier+TACE group were significantly more superior as compared with of the TACE group (P<0.05), the adverse reaction incidence had no significant difference (P>0.05). Compared with the TACE group, the CD4 +/CD8 + of the Huaier+TACE group was significantly improved (P<0.05).ConclusionFrom results of meta analysis, Huaier granule combined with TACE could improve therapeutic effect, increase survival rate, and improve life quality of PLC.