Objective To systematically evaluate the clinical effectiveness of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) pacing for heart disease. Methods We searched the electronic bibliographic databases, including The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, CBM, VIP, CNKI, and WANFANG database to assemble the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of RVS Pacing compared with right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing for heart disease. The deadline of the retrieval time was January 2010. Data were extracted and evaluated by two reviewers independently with a designed extraction form. The RevMan 5.0 software was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 16 RCTs involving 926 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) pacing significantly increased the left ventricular ejection fraction of 3 months and 18 months (WMD= 3.53, 95%CI 1.02 to 6.04; WMD= 8.94, 95%CI 7.35 to 10.52).Compared with RVA pacing, RVOT pacing could significantly reduce the QRS wave duration (WMD= –22.42, 95%CI –31.05 to – 13.80) immediately after the operation. Conclusion RVOT pacing can give patients a good physiological state which is more consistent with biventricular electric conduction and lead to the hemodynamic improvement in the short term, but the long-term result is not confident.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of autologous bone marrow cells therapy for patients with diabetic foot. GRADE system was used to evaluate the evidence quality of outcomes.MethodsWe searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data and CNKI for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about bone marrow cell transplantation in patients with diabetic foot from inception to February 28th 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. The evidence quality was evaluated by using GRADE profiler 3.6 software.ResultsFour RCTs were included. Meta-analysis showed that the bone marrow cell transplantation could decrease the rate of amputation (RR=0.08, 95%CI 0.00 to 1.32, P=0.08) and rest pain score (MD=–1.89, 95%CI –2.24 to –1.55, P<0.000 01), increase the rate of ameliorate ulcer healing (RR=2.01, 95%CI 1.45 to 2.79,P<0.000 1) and the quantity of new collateral vessels (MD=1.33, 95%CI 0.60 to 2.05,P<0.000 3). Besides, bone marrow cell transplantation could improve ankle-brachial index (MD=0.16, 95%CI 0.10 to 0.22,P<0.000 01) and transcutaneous arterial oxygen tension (MD=18.81, 95%CI 16.06 to 21.57,P<0.000 01). No adverse event was reported for all included studies. The qualities of evidence for all outcomes were rated as "low" to "very low".ConclusionBased on the current evidence, autologous bone marrow cells transplantation therapy has a certain effect and it is safe for patients with diabetic foot. However, due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, the above conclusions are still needed more multicenter clinical trials with large sample size to confirm.
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of power chain vs. nickel titanium coil springs in closing dental extraction space. Methods Databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database, and Chinese Journal Full-text Database were searched to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on comparing power chain with nickel titanium coil springs published before February 2012. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 4 RCTs involving 122 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that there was a significant difference in the rate of space closure between the two groups (MD=0.30 mm per month, 95%CI 0.17 to 0.44, Plt;0.000 1); The results of subgroup analyses indicated that, both high-quality trials (MD=0.20, 95%CI 0.07 to 0.34, P=0.003) and low quality trials (MD=0.40, 95%CI 0.30 to 0.50, Plt;0.000 01) showed no significant difference in the rate of space closure. Conclusion Current clinical evidence indicates nickel titanium coil spring is superior to power chain in the rate of space closure, but its long-term effect still needs to be proved by more large-scale RCTs.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of capecitabine combined with irinotecan (CAPIRI) versus capecitabine combined with oxaliplatin (CAPOX) for patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, VIP, WanFang Data and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CAPIRI versus CAPOX for patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer from inception to August 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 12 RCTs involving 1 049 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: there were no significant differences in complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), progression disease (PD), overall respond rate (ORR), median progression-free survival (mPFS), and median overall survival (mOS) between two groups (P>0.05). However, CARIRI group was lower on the disease control rate (RR=0.93, 95%CI 0.86 to 1.00, P=0.04) than CAPOX group. Incidence of diarrhea was higher in CAPIRI group (RR=1.83, 95%CI 1.37 to 2.45, P<0.000 1). However, the incidence rate of peripheral neurotoxicity in CAPOX group was higher (RR=0.13, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.35, P<0.000 1). There were no significant differences between two groups in the incidence rates of nausea and vomiting, hand-foot syndrome, anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia and alopecia (P>0.05).ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that two groups are equivalent in terms of curative effects. CAPIRI has a higher incidence rate of diarrhea, while CAPOX has a higher risk of peripheral neurotoxicity. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.
Objective To explore the effectiveness and safety of exchange of cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage （SAH）. Methods Sixty SAH patients diagnosed by CT and lumbarpuncture were randomly assigned into a control group （n =30, received conventional treatment） and a treatment group （n =30, received exchange of cerebrospinal fluid plus conventional treatment）. The main complications and effectiveness between the two groups were compared. SPSS 10.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results Compared with the control group, complications of persistent headache （ P =0.002 and 0. 007 respectively）, cerebral vasospasm （ P =0. 028 ） and hydrocephalus （ P =0. 038 ） were fewer in the treatment group. No significant difference in the incidence of rehaemorrhagia was found between the two groups （P = 1. 000）. Better effectiveness was observed in the treatment group （RR. 3.00, 95% CI 1. 014 to 8. 880, P = 0. 044 ）. Conclusions Exchange of cerebrospinal fluid plus conventional treatment is more effective than conventional treatment alone in the treatment of SAH.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effectiveness of scalp acupuncture for treating ischemic stroke. MethodWe searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data from inception to December 30th 2014 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on scalp acupuncture in the treatment of ischemic stroke. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed risk bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 27 studies involving 2 741 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that:a) As for the improvement of nervous functional deficiency, the scalp acupuncture plus drug group was superior to the drug alone group (MD=-5.33, 95%CI -6.71 to -3.96, P<0.000 01), and the scalp acupuncture plus conventional therapy group was superior to the conventional therapy alone group (MD=-2.11, 95%CI -3.31 to -0.91, P=0.0006). b) As for the effective rate, the scalp acupuncture group was superior to the body acupuncture group (OR=0.28, 95%CI 0.15 to 0.53, P<0.000 01), the scalp acupuncture plus drug group was superior to the drug alone group (OR=0.20, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.29, P<0.000 01), and the scalp acupuncture plus conventional therapy group was superior to the conventional therapy alone group (OR=0.12, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.56, P=0.008). However, there was no significant difference between the scalp acupuncture group and the drug alone group (OR=0.16, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.97, P=0.05). ConclusionScalp acupuncture appears to be an effective adjuvant therapy method for ischemic stroke, and can significantly improve the nervous functional deficiency when combined with other treatment. However, the strength of evidence is low due to high risk of bias of the included studies. More rigorous studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To examine the efficacy of acupuncture in hastening recovery and reducing long-term morbidity from Bell’s palsy. Methods We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Register Group (Till Feb. 2002), MEDLINE (Jan. 1966 to Dec. 2002); EMBASE (Jan. 1980 to Dec. 2002), LILACS (Jan. 1982 to Dec. 2002) and Chinese Biomedical Retrieval System (Jan. 1978 to Dec. 2002). We also searched grey literature. We identified all randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials involving acupuncture in the treatment of Bell’s palsy, selected the trials ment the inclusion criteria, assessed the methodological quality, extracted data on trials’ patients, interventions, outcome measurements and results and undertook analysis. Results Three small randomised controlled trials were included but due to some flaws in study designs or reporting and clinical differences between trials, data from trials were not combined in a meta-analysis，and a descriptive analysis was performed.The result indicated a positive effect of acupuncture (all Plt;0.01). Conclusions Three small studies in this review suggested a beneficial effect but the poor quality of the trials precludes us from drawing firm conclusions. There is a need for high quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using a study design which assures high internal validity.
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods We electronically searched the following databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMbase, WanFang Data, CBM, CNKI and VIP to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness and safety of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy vs. hepatectomy alone for PLC from inception to October, 2012. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 6 RCTs involving 951 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy significantly decreased the total recurrence rates of 1-year and 3-year (1 year: RR=0.48, 95%CI 0.36 to 0.65, Plt;0.000 01; 3 years: RR=0.69, 95%CI 0.50 to 0.96, P=0.03). However, the two groups were alike in decreasing the surem levels of AFP. Besides, the commonly-seen adverse reaction of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy included abdominal pain and bile leakage. Conclusion Implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy can decrease the 1-year and 3-year recurrence rates of PLC patients, especially for HCC at the early stage. But this conclusion should be interpreted with caution and needs more strictly-designed RCTs with large sample size and enough long follow-up to verify.
Objective?To compare the effect of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) with that of multiple daily insulin injections (MDI) in the patients with newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes, and to provide evidence for clinical treatment. Methods?We searched MEDLINE and Chinese Science and Technology Full-text Database up to Dec. 2009 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that had been conducted with patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. The selection of studies, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality were performed independently by two reviewers. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.0.23 software. The following outcomes were assessed: glycaemic control, insulin requirements, HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, hypoglycaemia and diabetic remission after follow-up. Results?Eight RCTs involving 597 newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were included. The methodological quality of the most studies was lower. The funnel plot comparing insulin requirement of CSII therapy with that of MDI therapy showed asymmetry, indicating that there was publication bias. The results of meta-analyses showed that: CSII had the same effect on improving fasting blood glucose (WMD= –0.21, 95%CI –0.42 to 0.00, P=0.05) and postprandial blood glucose (WMD= –0.24, 95CI% –0.57 to 0.08, P=0.14) as MDI in newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes. CSII therapy took 2.74 days fewer than MDI therapy (WMD= –2.74, 95CI% –3.33 to –2.16, Plt;0.000 01) and needed lower insulin requirements (reducing 7.78 units per day) (WMD= –7.78, 95CI% –9.25 to –6.31, Plt;0.000 01) to get target glucose control. The rate of hypoglycaemia of CSII therapy decreased 69% (OR= 0.31, 95%CI 0.12 to 0.80, P=0.01) compared with that of MDI. The rate of diabetes remission after short-term intensive insulin therapy increased 46% (OR=1.46, 95%CI 1.01 to 2.10, P=0.04) in CSII therapy compared with that in MDI therapy. Conclusion?In newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes, CSII therapy is better than MDI therapy. But because of the low quality of the included studies, the conclusion should be combined with patients and physicians’ experience, advantages and disadvantages in the clinical application.
Objective To systematically evaluate effectiveness and safety of nerve block therapy for neck pain. Methods Databases including CENTRAL, PubMed, Ovid, ISI, EBSCO, CBM and CNKI were searched from the date of their establishment to November 2011, and relevant references were also retrieved manually to collect both domestic and abroad randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about nerve block therapy for neck pain. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then the meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 10 studies involving 625 participants were included. The results of qualitative analysis showed that: a) The short-term effectiveness of the nerve block therapy group was markedly superior to the placebo group, the cognitive therapy group and the transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) group; and b) The short-term effectiveness of the combined nerve block therapy was markedly superior to the single nerve block therapy. The results of meta-analysis demonstrated that: a) There was no significant difference between the greater occipital nerve (GON) block group and the C2/3 nerve block group in neither short-term (SMD=−0.13, 95%CI −0.58 to 0.32, P=0.58) nor medium-term effectiveness (SMD=−0.01, 95%CI −0.46 to 0.44, P=0.98); and b): There was no significant difference between the injection with steroids group and the injection without steroids group in both short-term (SMD=0.16, 95%CI −0.13 to 0.44, P=0.28) and long-term effectiveness (SMD=0.27, 95%CI −0.02 to 0.55, P=0.07). Conclusion Current evidence shows nerve block therapy for neck pain is safe and especially good in short-term effectiveness. The combined nerve block therapy is probably more effective, but the effectiveness is not obviously improved by injection with or without steroids, and by different block methods. Due to the limitation of quality, quantity and total sample size of the included studies, this conclusion still needs to be proved by conducting more high quality and large scale studies.