Objective To assess the clinical application of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) as the early warning index for cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS). Methods Trials were collected through electronic searches of PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP (from the date of database establishment to June 2009). We screened the retrieved studies according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the quality of the included studies, performed descriptive analysis and meta-analysis with The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2 software. Results A total of 22 studies were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that, there was a significant difference about LPA level in cerebral infarction (CI) group vs. healthy control group (WMD=2.00, 95%CI 1.85 to 2.15), and in transient ischemia attach (TIA) group vs. healthy control group (WMD=2.48, 95%CI 2.18 to 2.78); and a difference was noted about 24 hours LPA level in CI group vs. healthy control group (WMD=2.40, 95%CI 1.81 to 2.99). Conclusions According to the included studies, the contents of LPA is higher in CIS than that in healthy control group. It would be helpful to measure LPA in the TIA period for intervention. However, more high quality trials are expected for further study, in order to prove the value of LPA as early warning index because of the heterogeneity and poor quality of the current included studies.
Objectives To describe the mechanism of means testing used in health programs for targeting poor population and to describe how the authors have assessed effects of means testing approaches where applicable. Method We searched 24 electronic resources which included evidence-based, health, economic and social databases, 7 international institution websites, grey literature review resources and Google. Screening and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers separately, and the differences were discussed by the third person or a review group. We systematically analyzed the included studied by theme analysis method from different dimensions. We also described the evaluation outcomes by the authors. Result A total of 10244 records were searched, and 58 studies were included after screening by title, abstract and full texts. A total of 13 studies described verified means testing (VMT) conducted as a targeting method in the US; simple testing method (SMT) was conducted in 16 countries; 26 studies described how proxy means testing (PMT) was used in 14 countries; andmixed means testing (MA) was conducted in 14 countries. Means testing as a targeting method was widely used in four health programs which included health insurance, cash transfer, provision of free health service and fee structure. The target population was poor. Only few studies analyzed the outcomes of means testing; 3 studies analyzed under-coverage and 11studies analyzed leakage as their indicators. Scare cost information could be obtained from the included studies. Conclusion Means testing is widely used in various health programs for targeting the eligible population in distributing benefits, especially in developing countries. Targeting as a means for allocating health resources is particularly important in LMICs for their constraints in budgets available for health. Meanwhile, a universal coverage strategy has become a worldwide issue, and how current health resources can be used equitably and efficiently is a concern from the policy practice. Means testing, as one of the tools in targeting eligible population, would help in this process.
Objectives To describe the factors determining choice of health financing systems. Methods Search words chosen by both health policy experts and the review search coordinators after discussion and pilot. 19 electronic databases, 2 international health institutes websites, 2 grey literature databases, and search engine Google were included in the databases. Any literature about health financing reforms on country level was included. Pre-designed data extraction form was used for collecting the information. The data was analyzed and described by pre-designed analytic framework.Result A total of 59 studies were included in this review. The driving forces included political, economic, social, and health systems factors. Development level of economy was the most crucial factor for transformation of health financing systems. The health system could directly led to the transition between different health systems, both Italy and France transform their financing system from social health insurance to national health system. The key persons such as premier of Thailand and Germany, leader of political and social organization in Israel and Korea are the driving forces of health financing reforms. Conclusion Developing countries can learn from the countries which have achieved universal coverage through health financing reform. Underlying factors influencing formulation of a health financing system need to be considered before taking actions in reforming the current system. Efforts in transforming the health financing systems need to be made from political, economic, and health systems sides.