ObjectiveTo systematically review the effectiveness and safety of bupropion for smoking cessation in smokers with cardiovascular disease. MethodsDatabases including The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched from inception to February 23rd, 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on bupropion versus placebo for smoking cessation in smokers with cardiovascular disease were included. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.1 software. ResultsIn total, 4 studies involving 1 415 patients were finally included. The results of metaanalyses indicated that, compared with placebo, bupropion significantly increased the point prevalence abstinence rate at 3 months (RR=1.79, 95%CI 1.14 to 2.83, P=0.01). However, the point prevalence abstinence rates at 6 months (RR=1.81, 95%CI 0.77 to 4.24, P=0.18) and 12 months (RR=1.46, 95%CI 0.94 to 2.27, P=0.10), and the continuous abstinence rates at 3 months (RR=1.48, 95%CI 0.89 to 2.47, P=0.13), 6 months (RR=1.41, 95%CI 0.79 to 2.51, P=0.25), and 12 months (RR=1.43, 95%CI 0.93 to 2.17, P=0.10) were similar in the two groups. The use of bupropion did not increase all-cause mortality (RR=1.13, 95%CI 0.49 to 2.56, P=0.78) and the incidence of cardiovascular events (RR=1.25, 95%CI 0.95 to 1.64, P=0.11). ConclusionBupropion is safe to use in smokers with cardiovascular disease. Although bupropion could increase the point prevalence abstinence rate at 3 months, it is not effective for long-term smoking cessation. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more large-scale high-quality RCTs are required to verify the aforementioned conclusion.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effect of early moxibustion therapy on the recovery of gastrointestinal functioning after gastrointestinal surgery. MethodsWe searched The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, EMbase, Ovid, EBSCO, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data from inception to Jan. 2015, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs about early moxibustion therapy on the recovery of gastrointestinal functioning. Two reviewer independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 softwares. ResultsA total of nine RCTs and four quasi-RCTs involving 1444 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that, the early moxibustion therapy group was significantly superior to the control group in total effective rate (OR=1.26, 95%CI 1.17 to 1.36, P<0.00001), the time to first bowel motion (MD=-11.79, 95%CI -13.79 to -9.78, P<0.00001), the time to first flatus (MD=-15.13, 95%CI -17.40 to -12.85, P<0.00001) and the time to first passage of feces (MD=-34.93, 95%CI -59.33 to -10.53, P=0.005). ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that early moxibustion therapy after gastrointestinal surgery is beneficial for promoting the recovery of gastrointestinal functioning. In addition, due to the low methodological quality of included studies, larger sample, high-quality RCTs are needed to prove the above conclusion.
We investigated the effects and optimal treatment frequency of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO). A comparison was performed with the cyclical alendronate and a course of PEMFs in the treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis on bone mineral density (BMD), pain intensity and balance function. There was no significant difference between the two groups on mean percentage changes from baseline of BMD within 24 weeks after random treatments (P≥0.05). However, at the ends of 48 weeks and 72 weeks, the BMD of the PEMFs group were significantly lower than that of the alendronate group (P<0.05). No significant difference was detected between the two groups with regard to treatment effects on Visual Analogue Scale score, the Timed Up & Go Test and Berg Balance Scale score. Compared with cyclical alendronate, a course of PEMFs was as effective as alendronate in treating PMO for at least 24weeks. So its optimal treatment frequency for PMO may be one course per six months.
Trial sequential analysis (TSA) could be performed in both TSA software and Stata software. The implementation process of TSA in Stata needs the command of "metacumbounds" of Stata combines with the packages of "foreign" and "ldbounds" of R software. This paper briefly introduces how to implement TSA using Stata software.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effect of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and locking proximal femoral plate (LPFP) for femoral intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients. MethodsWe respectively analyzed the clinical data of 116 senile patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture treated between October 2008 and March 2014. Among them, 60 were treated with PFNA, and 56 were treated with LPFP. We compared the two groups of patients in terms of operating time, surgical blood loss, surgical complications, walking exercise time, fracture healing time and joint function recovery. ResultsA total of 115 patients had regular follow-up from 12 to 24 months (averaging 15.7 months). One patient died. The operating time was (83.26±14.81) minutes in PFNA group and (102.58±15.31) minutes in LPFP group. The surgical blood loss was (202.16±33.14) mL in PFNA group and (255.80±45.92) mL in LPFP group. The walking exercise time was (1.80±0.91) weeks in PFNA group and (3.48±3.03) weeks in LPFP group. The fracture healing time was (11.80±2.26) weeks in PFNA group and (12.14±2.21) weeks in LPFP group. The postoperative Harris score for hip joint was 84.56±9.55 in PFNA group and 82.47±9.22 in LPFP group. There were statistical differences in operating time, surgical blood loss and walking exercise time (P<0.05), while no statistical differences were found in fracture healing time and postoperative Harris score for hip joint (P>0.05). ConclusionPFNA and LPFP are effective methods for femoral intertrochanteric fracture in elderly people, but PFNA has a shorter operating time, less surgical blood loss and earlier walking exercise time.