ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy of absorbable barbed suture versus traditional absorbable suture in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data, CNKI and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect clinical trials of absorbable barbed suture versus traditional absorbable suture in TKA from inception to November, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 6 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 5 cohort studies were included, involving 2 008 patients. Meta-analysis showed that the joint capsule suture time of the absorbable barbed suture group [MD=–4.31, 95% CI (–4.72, –3.90), P<0.000 01], the incidence of acupuncture injury during suture [OR=0.14, 95% CI (0.03, 0.61),P=0.009], and incision complication rate [OR=0.56, 95% CI (0.36, 0.88), P=0.01] were significantly lower than the traditional absorbable suture group, but the incidence of suture fracture [OR=23.03, 95% CI (3.08, 172.09),P=0.002] was higher, yet the difference was statistically significant. There were no significant differences in the incidence of superficial infection, deep infection, aseptic redness, incision dehiscence and KSS score at 3 months after operation (P>0.05).ConclusionsAvailable evidence suggests that the use of absorbable barbed sutures to close the TKA surgical incision shortens the time to suture the joint capsule, reduces the incidence of acupuncture injury as well as the overall incidence of incision complications without increasing superficial infection, deep infection, and sterility. The incidence of redness and incision splitting has no significant effects on joint function at 3 months after surgery, however the incidence of suture fracture is higher. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, the above conclusions are required to be verified by more high-quality studies.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) practice requires high-quality evidence. With the rigorous and systematic processes including legislation, literature search, literature screening, literature quality assessment, data collection, data analysis, results interpretation and original evaluation updating, the systematic review/meta-analysis is recognized as the clinical evidence with highest intensive argument for reasons of ensuring the authenticity and reliability of the findings and conclusions. Before it is applied to the specific clinical practice, a clinical doctor has to evaluate whether its results are applicable to patients or not, whether it contains all possible important results or not, whether the diagnosis and treatment benefiting from its interventions are clinically significant to patients or not, and additionally, has to take the treatment expense and patient’s value orientation into consideration. EBM clinical practice occurs for demands, and updates consciously for its authenticity, patient’s individuation and disease complexity. It has a broad development space for no other reason than its defect and imperfection.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of ginseng preparations in improving insulin resistance (IR). MethodsWe electronically searched databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMbase, CNKI, VIP, WanFang Data, and CBM from inception to October 2015, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) about ginseng preparations for IR patients. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 17 RCTs involving 1169 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that treatment combined with ginseng preparations group was superior to the control group in levels of HOMA-IR (MD=-0.13, 95%CI -0.24 to -0.01, P=0.03), ISI (MD=0.72, 95%CI 0.25 to 1.19, P=0.003), FPG (MD=-0.90, 95%CI -1.27 to -0.52, P<0.00001), 2hPG (MD=-1.48, 95%CI -2.03 to -0.92, P<0.00001) and HbA1c (MD=-0.73, 95%CI -1.16 to -0.31, P=0.0008). No statistically differences between two groups were found in levels of FPI and F-CP. As for the safety, a total of 9 cases in the ginseng group occurred adverse reactions. Symptoms of adverse reactions included hypoglycemia, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that, treatment combined with ginseng preparations could improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood glucose in IR patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, the above conclusion need to be verified by more high quality studies.
Objective lt;brgt;To evaluated the effect of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Methods lt;brgt;Sixty-two cases (62 eyes) of exudative AMD were managed with TTT. Before treatment, 58 cases underwent fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA),42 cases underwent simultaneous indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and 56 cases underwent optic coherence tomography (OCT).TTT was delivered using a 810 nm diode laser with variable spot sizes 0.5-3.0 mm and power range 60-40 mW,60 seconds duration. Sixty-two cases were followed up for 1-10 months with 4.8 months average. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Results lt;brgt;The visual acuities of last visit were compared with those before the treatment. The visual acuity was unchanged in 43 cases (69.3%), improved in 15 cases (24.2%), and declined in 4 cases (6.5%). OCT was re-done in 51 cases and compared with OCT images before TTT treatment. The height of macular edema was unchanged in 29 cases (56.9%), decreased in 18 cases (35.3%), and increased in 4 cases (7.8%). The amelioration of visual acuity was compatible with that of macular configuration in the majority of cases (74.5%). Only in 13 cases (25.5%) the amelioration of visual acuity lagged behind that of macular configuration. The re-treatment was performed in 18 cases (29.1%), probably due to insufficiency of laser power. No side-effect was found. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Conclusion lt;brgt;TTT makes most of the cases of exudative AMD retaining or improving their visual acuity. The employment is secured. Further exploration is needed in order to obtain the parameters of the laser treatment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 180-183)
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of statins pretreatment in patients before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods Published literature on relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were retrieved via electronic and handsearch in databases CNKI, CBM, MEDLINE and The Cochrane Library from January 1990 to May 2011. The references of these articles were also retrieved. Two reviewers independently identified articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data, assess the quality of the included studies, and then conducted meta-analysis using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 10 trials involving 3 012 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that: during the periprocedural period, the trial group had a lower incidence than the control group (98 of 1 514 cases, incidence 6.5%) in periprocedural myocardial infarction with a significant difference (OR=0.43, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.56, Plt;0.000 01). The composite of death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization in one month, essentially driven by periprocedural myocardial infarction, was reported 6.8% in the trial group and 15.1% in the control group (OR=0.41, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.53, Plt;0.000 01). Conclusion Current evidence supports the effectiveness of statin pretreatment used to reducing the rate of periprocedural myocardial infarction in patients before receiving PCI.
Objective To review the association between chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) infection and cerebral infarction. Methods We electronically searched MEDLINE, BIOSIS, VIP database, and China Full Text Journal Database from Jan. 1990 through Dec. 2007 to identify case-control studies about the association of CP and cerebral infarction. The quality of the included studies was assessed and the RevMan 4.2 software was used for meta-analyses. Results A total of 22 studies were included. The results of meta-analyses showed: ① When the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) method was used to examine CP antibody in serum, the positive rate of the cerebral infarction group was higher than that of the control group when the positive infection was defined by IgA≥1?16 [n=8, OR=2.18, 95%CI (1.49 to 3.49), Plt;0.0001]; but when positive infection was defined by IgA≥1?32 (n=3), IgG≥1?32 (n=6), or IgG≥1?64 (n=5), there were no significant differences in the positive rate between the two groups [OR (95%CI) were 1.47 (0.97 to 2.24), 1.24 (0.82 to 1.86), and 1.23 (0.98 to 1.55), respectively]; ② When the ELISA method was used to examine CP-IgG antibody in serum, the positive rate of the cerebral infarction group was higher than that of the controlled group [n=8, OR=2.40, 95%CI (1.42 to 4.06), P=0.000 2]. ③ The acute and chronic CP infections were associated with the incidence of cerebral infarction [n=4, OR=7.22, 95%CI (2.68 to 19.49); n=4, OR=4.30, 95%CI (3.40 to 7.40)]. Conclusion ① The association between CP infection and cerebral infarction is determined by the positive criterion. IgA antibody is more sensitive than the IgG antibody. When the positive infection is determined by IgA≥1?16, CP infection is associated with cerebral infarction. ② The results of ELISA for examining CP-IgG support the association between CP infection and cerebral infarction. ③ Both acute and chronic CP infections are associated with cerebral infarction, but these associations needed to be proven by more scientific studies.
Objective To perform a systematic review on the safety (i.g. cardiovascular, mortality and gastrointestinal bleeding) of clopidogrel versus clopidogrel combined with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the patients with coronary heart disease. Methods Such databases as The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, SSCI, VIP, CNKI, and CBM were searched from the date of their establishment to September 2010. The bibliographies of the retrieved articles were also checked. The data was extracted and evaluated by two reviewers independently. The RevMan 5.0 software was used for meta-analyses. Results A total of 29 studies were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that the use of clopidogrel combined with PPIs was associated with increasing the risk of cardiovascular events (RR=1.27, 95%CI 1.09 to 1.47), as well as myocardial infarction (RR=1.45, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.76), total mortality (RR=1.23, 95%CI 1.06 to 1.43), and rethrombosis (RR=1.37, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.86). However, there was no enough evidence to reach the conclusion that the combination use could benefit the situation of gastrointestinal bleeding (RR=0.84, 95%CI 0.47 to 1.50). Conclusion?Compared with clopidogrel, the combination use of clopidogrel and PPIs increases cardiovascular events, mortality, and the risks of myocardial infarction and rethrombosis. However, more clinical studies are required to assess the effect of reducing gastrointestinal bleeding.
Objectives To systematically review the efficacy and safety of bonesetting combined acupuncture in the treatment of cervical vertigo. Methods PubMed, CNKI, VIP, CBM and WanFang Data databases were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on bonesetting combined acupuncture in the treatment of cervical vertigo from inception to February 15th, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.3 software. Results Eighteenth RCTs involving 1 915 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with acupuncture or bonesetting alone group, the effective rate in bonesetting combining acupuncture group was higher (RRacupuncture=1.17, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.23, P<0.000 01; RRbonesetting=1.16, 95%CI 1.10 to 1.23, P<0.000 01). Improvement of the cervical vertigo symptom and function in the combined group was better than that in the acupuncture group or bonesetting group (MDacupuncture=3.42, 95%CI 2.29 to 4.56, P<0.000 01; MDbonesetting=6.45, 95%CI 5.56 to 7.33, P<0.000 01). Average flow velocity of cervical vertigo basilar artery (BA) in the combined group was superior to the bonesetting group (MD=7.54, 95%CIP=0.02). 1.08 to 13.99, Conclusions Bonesetting combining acupuncture treatment of cervical vertigo in terms of effectiveness and function improvement are better than those of acupuncture alone or pure bonesetting. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.
Objective?To review the recent progress of the researches in construction of tissue engineered osteochondral composites, and to discuss the challenges in construction of tissue engineered osteochondral composites.?Methods?The recent literature on the construction of tissue engineered osteochondral composites was extensively reviewed and analyzed.?Results?The studies on the construction of tissue engineered osteochondral composites are relatively more in vivo, the current focus is that different tissues derived mesenchymal stem cells are widely used to be seed cells; single-phase scaffold has been limited, studies on biphase scaffold and triphase scaffold are new trends; the design and performance of bioreactor need to be further optimized in the future.?Conclusion?The construction of tissue engineered osteochondral composites will be a promising method for the treatment of cartilage defects.
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.