To aim directly at the individualized character and tendency about clinical assessment of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we draw off a new pathway which is evidence-based goal attainment scale(EBGAS) in the text. i.e., we will develop clinical individualized assessment method of TCM on account of GAS by the approach of evidence based medicine.
Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a statistical technique that integrates data from multiple clinical studies and compares the efficacy and safety of multiple interventions, which can provide pro and con ranking results for all intervention options in the evidence network and provide direct evidence support for clinical decision-making. At present, NMA is usually based on the aggregation of the same type of data set, and there are still methodological and software difficulties in achieving cross-study design and cross-data format data set merging. The crossnma package of R programming language is based on Bayesian framework and Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm, extending the three-level hierarchical model to the standard NMA data model to achieve differential merging of varied data types. The crossnma package fully considers the impact of risk bias caused by the combination of different types of data on the results by introducing model variables. In addition, the package provides functions such as result output and easy graphing, which makes it possible to combine NMA across study designs and evidence across data formats. In this study, the model based on crossnma package method and software operation will be demonstrated and explained through the examples of four individual participant datasets and two aggregate datasets.
Evidence-based Chinese medicine is a relatively new discipline which applies the concepts and methods of evidence-based medicine (EBM) to the clinical research and practice of Chinese medicine. It is not only a branch of EBM but also a natural product of the development of Chinese medicine. This paper introduces the theoretical concepts of evidence-based Chinese medicine and reviews the process of its development. It then elucidates the main characteristics of evidence-based Chinese medicine, emphasizes its holistic approach, prescription-syndrome relationship, and its human-centered approach. Research contents and status quo are also summarized to point out the challenges of the production and application of evidence. Finally, we innovatively indicate further research directions on combining individual-based research with population-based research and developing narrative EBM.
The method of evaluating clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine is one of the hotspots in the field of traditional Chinese medicine in recent years. How to dynamically evaluate individual efficacy is one of the key scientific problems to explain the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. At present, there are no recognized methods of evaluating individual efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we provided a method of dynamically evaluating individual efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine based on Bayesian N-of-1 trials after analyzing the current status of researches on methods of evaluating individual efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. This method has the advantages of both N-of-1 trials and Bayesian multilevel models. It is feasible to evaluate individual efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine from the perspective of the design and analysis method. This study can provide an important basis for enriching and improving the methodology of evaluating individual efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the common chronic airway disorders, which accounts for the third to fourth cause of death worldwide. Recently, the focuses of researches are on the multi-factorial risks for development of COPD, mechanisms related to COPD development, early detection and early intervention of COPD, individualized use of long-term maintenance medications as well as phenotypes of acute exacerbation of COPD and their corresponding management. There are huge amount of COPD patients with variety of risk factors or different phenotypes in China, which makes it possible to establish a network for cohort study or real life registration study of COPD. The results will provide new information on the characteristics of COPD in China. Individualized treatment could be recommended according to the phenotypes or endotypes information. All these new findings or progresses could provide impetus for improvement of the ability of research and clinical management of COPD to the worldwide top level.
In the process of evidence-based practice, the evaluation of evidence applicability relied on the subjective judgment of clinicians, while the systematic method of which was still in lack. The complex clinical information of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) enhanced the uncertainty and risk of applying evidence. Based on the analysis of the process of evidence-based practice, this paper introduced the method of TCM evidence applicability evaluation and used the raw data of clinical trials to develop a clinical prediction model to enable the assessment of the evidence applicability on individual patients. The establishment of individual evidence applicability evaluation method could promote the rational application of TCM evidence in the long term.
ObjectiveTo explore the application effect of the individualized preoperative visit to the da Vinci Robotic lobectomy patients. MethodSixty lobectomy patients with 34 males and 26 females at age of 29 to 78 (58.4±12.4) years were divided into two groups according to the order of their medical treatment in our hospital between June 2014 and December 2014. In the control group we used conventional reoperative visit method, while in the observation group we used individualized preoperative visit method. And the rehabilitation effects of the two groups were compared. ResultsPostoperative drainage tube time (6.17±1.34 d vs. 7.13±1.17 d, P=0.004) and length of hospital stay (7.13±1.17 d vs. 8.37±1.92 d, P=0.004) were significantly shorter in the observation group than those in the control group. Postoperative pain score was significantly lower in the observation group than that in the control group (0.87±0.73 points vs. 2.60±0.81 points, P=0.000). Also in the observation group the patients had a higher degree of satisfaction with a statistical difference (P<0.05). ConclusionIndividualized preoperative visit relieves patients' concern of the effect of the robotic operation, effectively reduces the psychological pressure of patients, strengthens the confidence of patients to overcome the disease, so that patients can actively cooperate with the operation, which promote postoperative rehabilitation.
This is the seventh paper in the evidence-based medicine glossary series. In this paper, We mainlyintroduced five terms related to meta-analysis——prospective meta-analysis, individual patient data meta-analysis,cumulative meta-analysis, multiple-treatments meta-analysis and meta regression.We also gave some examples to helpreaders better understand and use them.
ObjectiveTo investigate the classification and treatment strategies of symptomatic severe osteoporotic vertebral fracture and collapse. MethodsBetween August 2010 and January 2014, 42 patients with symptomatic severe osteoporotic vertebral fracture and collapse were treated, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. According to clinical symptom and imaging materials, 23 cases were classified as type I (local pain, limitation of motion, no neurological symptom, and no obvious deformity), 12 cases as type II (slight neurological symptom and kyphotic Cobb angle ≤ 30°), and 7 cases as type III (severe neurological symptom and kyphotic Cobb angle <30°). In 23 type I patients, 17 underwent percutaneous vertebral augmentation, 6 underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation strengthened with bone cement combined with percutaneous vertebral augmentation. In 12 type II patients, they were treated with local spinal decompression and internal fixation strengthened with bone cement. In 7 type III patients, 5 underwent posterior osteotomy, and 2 underwent one stage posterior approach of vertebral resection and reconstruction. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and local kyphotic Cobb angle were used to evaluate the neurological function. The complications were recorded. ResultsThe operation was successfully completed in all patients. Wound infection and ketoacidosis secondary to stress blood glucose rise occurred in 1 case of type III patients respectively, and were cured after corresponding treatment; primary healing of wound was obtained in the other patients. The patients were followed up from 6 to 36 months (mean, 11.6 months). The nerve function was improved in 17 cases, and micturition disability was observed in 2 cases. Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in 13 cases (30.95%) (7 cases in type I, 4 cases in type II, and 2 cases in type III). No bone cement dislocation and internal fixation failure were found during follow-up. The VAS score, ODI, and the local kyphotic Cobb angle at 1 week and last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between at 1 week and last follow-up (P>0.05). ConclusionIn order to improve the effectiveness and reduce the risk and complications of operation, individualized strategies should be performed according to different types of severe osteoporotic vertebral fracture and collapse.
ObjectiveTo suggest the importance of taking notice of oral chemotherapy drugs in cancer patients, and the importance of drug-use evaluation in patients with insufficient kidney functions, by reporting one death case caused by multiple organ failure because of myelosuppression after oral tegafur, gimeracil and oteracil potassium (S-1) capsules for 10 days in a patient with insufficient kidney functions. MethodsThrough the analysis of one patient who died of multiple organ failure due to degree-Ⅳ myelosuppression and the related literature review, we discussed the necessity of individualized administration of clinical chemotherapy. ResultsThe patient had grade-Ⅱ renal insufficiency before chemotherapy and did not undergo dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) gene test. Myelosuppression occurred 10 days after oral chemotherapy drugs. The white blood cells, neutrophils and platelets decreased progressively, and then developed into degree-Ⅳ suppression. Finally the patient died of multiple organ failure. Conclusions Genetic variation and renal insufficiency may cause differences in drug metabolism. The reduced urinary excretion of guimet pyrimidine (CDHP), the inhibitors of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase which is the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) metabolic enzyme, may lead to elevated plasma concentration of 5-FU, thereby increasing myelosuppression and other adverse reactions. If DPYD gene detection results show low enzyme activity, it can cause lethal toxicity through deceleration of 5-FU metabolism and high concentration of blood. DPYD gene dzetection should be performed if allowed, and individualized treatment plan should be formulated after comprehensive evaluation. The overall situation of the patients should be considered before treatment, and then individualized drugs should be administered.