Random allocation to intervention groups remains the best method of ensuring that the groups being compared are similar at the onset of study and of avoiding removing selection bias between groups of patients. The success of randomization depends on two interrelated processes. First, an unpredictable allocation sequence must be generated based on a random procedure. Second, strict implementation of that sequence must be secured through an assignment mechanism called allocation concealment to prevent those involved in a trial from knowing upcoming assignments. Inadequate allocation concealment can lead to clinicians scheduling patient’s assignment and compromising the unpredictable allocation sequence.
Health technological innovation has helped to improve health care delivery and patient outcomes. However, the proliferation of health care technology has accompanied burgeoning health care costs and evoked social, ethical, legal, and political concerns. Health technology assessment (HTA) is the systematic evaluation of properties, effects and/or other impacts of health care technology. The main purpose of HTA is to inform persons of technology-related policy making in health care. There is great variation in the scope, selection of methods and level of detail in the practice of HTA. This paper will introduce the basic concepts and methods of HTA in order to help those who are interested in conducting HTA.
Interstitial lung disease is the most common pulmonary complication in patients with inflammatory myopathy, with a high case fatality rate, unknown pathogenesis, and complex clinical manifestations, and the treatment is difficult. Early and timely treatment can improve the patient’s clinical symptoms and inhibit the development of the disease. The present treatment protocols can be mainly summarized as the commonly used drugs (corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, and intravenous immunoglobulin) and new drugs (cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, biological agents, and anti-fibrosis drug), etc. In this paper, the treatment progress of inflammatory myopathy-related interstitial lung disease and different myositis antibody-related interstitial lung disease in recent years at home and abroad is reviewed, so as to provide a basis for clinical treatment.
Objective To investigate the application and advancement of hepatocyte t ransplantation ( HCT) .Methods Literatures about the advancement of HCT were reviewed and analyzed. Results There have been manynovel technologies and advancement s in the application of HCT. For example , gene modified cell can be used as seedcell , subcutaneous t ransplantation can be taken when combined with giant molecule material and the encap sulationpreconditioning technique can also carried before operation to improve the rate of survival. Conclusion With moreand deeper understanding of hepatocyte t ransplantation and the development of advanced techniques such as the application of giant molecule , HCT will be extensively used in the clinical t reatment of acute and chronic hepatic diseases.
This article illustrates the development, current status and future prospects of knowledge translation. Its importance and necessity are introduced and some measurements or approaches to promote knowledge translation are discussed.
Objective To investigate the impact of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on a rat model of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and analyze its immune regulatory mechanisms in vivo.Methods Eighteen Lewis rats were randomly divided into three groups: model control group, intervention group and normal control group, six animals in each group. Human retinal S-antigen peptide (HS-AgP35, 1 mg/ml) was mixed and emulsified with complete Freundprime;s adjuvant and injected into hind foot pad of rats on the first and eighth day to establish the animal model of EAU. For bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, 1 ml of cell suspension (2times;106 cells/ml) was injected into tail vein of the intervention group rats on the first day when the emulsified S-antigen was injected. EAU manifestation, pathological change and IFN-gamma; level were evaluated and compared among those three groups after two weeks. Results No abnormal signs were found in the eyes of rats in normal control group. The manifestation grading of the intervention group (two rats at grade 0, three rats at grade 0.5, one rat at grade one) was significantly different from the model control group (one rat at grade one, one rat at grade two, three rats at grade three, one rat at grade four) (P=0.015). The retina of rats in normal control group was ordinary under light microscope. The histopathologrical grading of the intervention group (one rat at grade 0, four rats at grade 0.5,one rat at grade one) and the model control group (four rats at grade three, two rats at grade four) was also statistically different (P＜0.01). Furthermore, the IFN-gamma; level in peripheral blood of the intervention group rats declined significantly compared to the model control group (t=9.0574, P=0.01). Conclusions Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can inhibit EAU significantly, possibly by lowering the level of IFN－gamma;, thereby reduce the severity of uveitis and improve the condition of uveitis in rats.
Bone tumor surgery involves tumor resection and subsequent reconstruction. With the development of surgical technique and new material, there is a great step toward bone and joint reconstruction in bone tumor surgery. Generally speaking, there are two major reconstructive methods including bio-reconstruction and mechanical reconstruction. In addition, three-dimensional printed prosthesis has been widely applied in the field of bone tumor surgery. The short-term result is encouraged; however, long-term results and related complications are seldom reported.
Objective To investigate the ability of gene-loaded lipopolysaccharide-amine nanopolymersomes (LNPs) in inducing osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by in vitro gene transfection, where LNPs were used as a non-viral cationic carrier, and their properties were optimized during synthesis. Methods LNPs were synthesized by a graft-copolymerization method, and the effects of different pH environments during synthesis on physicochemical properties of LNPs and LNPs/plasmid of bone morphogenetic protein 2-green fluorescent protein (pBMP-2-GFP) complexes were explored. Then, optimized LNPs with maximum transfection efficiency and safe cytotoxicity in rat BMSCs were identified by cytotoxicity and transfection experiments in vitro. Thereafter, the optimized LNPs were used to mediate pBMP-2-GFP to transfect rat BMSCs, and the influences of LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs were evaluated by monitoring the cell morphology, concentration of BMP-2 protein, activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the formation of calcium nodules. Results The nitrogen content, particle size, and zeta potential of LNPs synthesized at pH 8.5 were lower than those of the other pH groups, with the lowest cytotoxicity (96.5%±1.4%) and the highest transfection efficiency (98.8%±0.1%). After transfection treatment, within the first 4 days, BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP expressed BMP-2 protein significantly higher than that treated by Lipofectamine2000 (Lipo)/pBMP-2-GFP, polyethylenimine 25K/pBMP-2-GFP, and the blank (non-treated). At 14 days after transfection, ALP activity in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP was higher than that treated by Lipo/pBMP-2-GFP and the blank, comparable to that induced by osteogenic medium; with alizarin red staining, visible calcium nodules were found in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP or osteogenic medium, but absent in BMSCs treated by Lipo/pBMP-2-GFP or the blank with apoptosis. At 21 days after transfection, transparent massive nodules were discovered in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP, and BMSCs exhibited the morphologic features of osteoblasts. Conclusion LNPs synthesized at pH 8.5 has optimal transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity, they can efficiently mediate pBMP-2-GFP to transfect BMSCs, and successfully induce their directional osteogenic differentiation, whose inducing effect is comparable to the osteogenic medium. The results suggest that gene transfection mediated by LNPs may be a convenient and effective strategy in inducing directional differentiation of stem cells.
Objective To evaluate the effect of teaching evidence-based medicine (EBM) in postgraduates. Methods One hundred and thirteen postgraduates in the second year grade selecting an EBM course were included. The course lasted four weeks (twice a week, 3 hours each time and total 21 hours). The courses were delivered in combination with cases. The teaching effect was evaluated by requesting the students to present an evidence-based case report on the five steps of evidence-based practice. Each teacher assessed the reports independently. Results The mean score of 107 EBM case reports was 51.35±11.38. Distribution of the mean score was nearly normal. Score distribution of the items: the full mark rate was 97% for case depiction and 62% for evidence searching. Stratified analysis: ① Formulating answerable clinical questions: the full mark rate was 88% for clear statement of patient type, 89% for clear statement of intervention, 35% for control and 36% for outcome statement, respectively. ② Searching evidence: the full marks rate was 95% for selecting relevant database, 90% for searching term, 68% for searching strategy and 79% for searching result depiction, respectively. ③ Critical appraisal of evidence: the full mark rate of critical appraisal of the clinical importance and validity of evidence was very low (35% and 7%respectively). ④ Evidence applying: the full mark rate of intervention’s benefit and risk for individual patient and patient’s value was higher than that of applying evidence to patients and intervention feasibility (24% and 21%, 16% and 12%). ⑤ Evaluation: the full mark rate of clinical result evaluation was higher than that of performance of evidence-based practice (55% and 17%). Conclusions Teaching EBM for postgraduates was successful, we need to strengthen the practice of critical appraisal and applying evidence for patients in the future EBM course.
Background Acute pancreatitis is one of the most severe acute abdominal conditions. Recently with the understanding of pathophysiology and pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, cytokines, especially platelet-activating factor (PAF), have been shown to play an important role. Lexipafant is a potent inhibitor of PAF. It has shown exiting results in the animal experiments, so randomized controlled studies are needed to assess the impact of lexipafant for acute pancreatitis. Objectives To determine whether lexipafant can alter the course, prevent or treat organ failure and reduce mortality in acute pancreatitis. Search strategy Electronic databases were searched and reference lists from included studies were also handsearched. Published abstracts from conference proceedings and ten kinds of Chinese medical journals were handsearched for additional citations. Personal contaction with colleagues and experts in the field of pancreatitis was performed to identify potentially relevant trials. Selection criteria Randomized, controlled trials, In which participants went in hospital within 72 hours of belliache episode, comparing lexipafant to placebo or other interventions on organ failure rate or mortality of acute pancreatitis. Data collection and analysis Data related to the clinical outcomes were extracted by two reviewers independently, if there was any divarication, they would have a discussion. Main Results Three studies meet the inclusion criteria up to 2001. Compared with control group, lexipafant had the tendency of reducing the early deaths (odds ratio [OR] 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23 to1.38, P=0.2), accelerating the recovery of organ failure (OR 0.40, 95%CI 0.12 to 1.32, P=0.13) and reducing the occurrence of new organ failure OR 0.34, but these results had no statistical significance. A large-scale multicentre randomized controlled trial including 1 500 patients has been completed in America, but the result has not been published. Reviewers’ Conclusions Current evidence couldn’t draw the final conclusion. So the large-scale of randomized controlled trials is required.