Objectives To assess the effects of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Method We searched The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Current Contents, LILACS, databases of ongoing trials, reference lists of reviews on the topic of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and we contacted experts and manufacturers for additional trials. Date of most recent search: December 2003 (Current Contents) and April 2003 (other databases). Randomised controlled trials of at least 12 weeks duration comparing alpha-glucosidase inhibitor monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes with any other intervention and that included at least one of the following outcomes: mortality, morbidity, quality of life, glycemic control, lipids, insulin levels, body weight, adverse events. Two reviewers read all abstracts, assessed quality and extracted data independently. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus or by the judgement of a third reviewer. A statistician checked all extracted data entrance in the database. We attempted to contact all authors for data clarification. Results We included 41 trials (8130 participants), 30 investigated acarbose, seven miglitol, one trial voglibose and three trials compared different alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Study duration was 24 weeks in most cases and only two studies lasted amply longer than one year. We found only few data on mortality, morbidity and quality of life. Acarbose had a clear effect on glycemic control compared to placebo: glycated haemoglobin –0.77% (95% confidence interval –0.90 to –0.64), fasting blood glucose –1.1 mmol/L (95% confidence interval –1.4 to –0.9), post-load blood glucose –2.32 mmol/L (95% confidence interval –2.73 to –1.92). The effect on glycated haemoglobin by acarbose was not dose-dependent. We found a decreasing effect on post-load insulin and no clinically relevant effects on lipids or body weight. Adverse effects were mostly of gastro-intestinal origin and dose dependent. Compared to sulphonylurea, acarbose decreased fasting and post-load insulin levels by –24.8 pmol/L (95% confidence interval –43.3 to –6.3) and –133.2 pmol/L (95% confidence interval –184.5 to –81.8) respectively and acarbose caused more adverse effects. Conclusions It remains unclear whether alpha-glucosidase inhibitors influence mortality or morbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conversely, they have a significant effect on glycemic control and insulin levels, but no statistically significant effect on lipids and body weight. These effects are less sure when alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are used for a longer duration. Acarbose dosages higher than 50 mg TID offer no additional effect on glycated haemoglobin but more adverse effects instead. Compared to sulphonylurea, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors lower fasting and post-load insulin levels and have an inferior profile regarding glycemic control and adverse effects.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the main treatment for elderly patients with middle and high risk aortic stenosis. However, coronary artery occlusion (CAO) related to TAVI is a very serious complication, which often leads to poor prognosis. Therefore, active preoperative prevention is particularly important. Preoperative computed tomography evaluation, bioprosthetic or native aortic scallop intentional laceration and chimney stent implantation technology can prevent TAVI-related coronary orifice obstruction. Ensuring commissural alignment during operation can reduce the occurrence of coronary occlusion, but its long-term prognosis needs further study. In addition, percutaneous coronary intervention is the main treatment, but there are problems such as difficult coronary access after TAVI. This article summarized the research progress in the mechanism, prevention and treatment of CAO related to TAVI.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic versus open nephrectomy in the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). MethodsWe searched databases including MEDLINE, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2015), Web of Science, CBM and WanFang Data to collect relevant clinical studies comparing the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic versus open nephrectomy for ADPKD from inception to Jan, 2015. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk bias of included studies. Then, RevMan 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis. ResultsA total of six retrospective cohort studies involving 182 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that:compared with the open nephrectomy group, the average hospitalization time was shorter (MD=-4.38 days, 95%CI -5.93 to -2.83, P=0.000 01) and the blood transfusion risk was lower (OR=0.25, 95%CI 0.10 to 0.62, P=0.003) in the laparoscopic nephrectomy group. However, there was no significant difference between two groups in the incidence of overall complications (OR=0.51, 95%CI 0.24 to 1.06, P=0.07). ConclusionThe application of laparoscopic nephrectomy for ADPKD can reduce the hospitalization time and blood transfusion risk when compared with the open nephrectomy, but the two operations have similar overall complication rate. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To summarize the research progress of health care transition (HCT) for pediatric liver transplant recipients. Method The literatures of HCT for pediatric liver transplant recipients were reviewed, and the concept, related factors, interventions and methods of health care transition were summarized. ResultsHCT is the process of moving from a child/family-centered model of care to an adult or patient-centered model of health care, and influenced by health care provider, child and caregivers, and other factors such as medical policy and economic level. Personalized transition program has more benefits for improving the experience and health outcomes of patients. Conclusion problem-oriented and demand-oriented transition program is recommended, early intervention to improve self-management abilities of children, information construction of pediatric medical system and multidisciplinary team building are important for improving health outcomes of patients.
Testing Treatments is a book to help the public understand how to validate the efficacy of testing treatments and the possible bias and error in clinical trial, as well as to call for help to promote good study thus to improve the quality of health care. No matter for the first or the second edition, this book is very popular around the world, and its second edition has been translated into more than ten languages. To help the readers understand the content of the book, we established a website (www.testingtreatments.org) and other sibling sites in different languages. The website not only provided the full-texts to download, but also collected various popular science resources (videos, audios and cartoons) to help the readers assimilate more knowledge. The editors of all the different language websites have established an TTi Editorial Alliance to share experience and provide each other with mutual support, thus to promote health professionals, patients and public around the world to use reliable research to inform their health decisions.
Objectives To systematically review the economic burden of surgical treatment for ankle fracture in China. Methods PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect studies on economic burden of surgical treatment for ankle fracture in China from inception to December 1st, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies. Description analysis were then performed by Excel software. Results A total of 67 studies were included. The analysis showed that: the average cost of hospitalization generally tend to rise during 2004 to 2013. The highest was 17 700 yuan in 2013. After 2013, the expense gradually stabilized. The average annual growth rate of hospitalization costs was 12.3% during 2004 to 2016. The percentage of hospitalization costs accounted for the per capita disposable income of households in region was stable during 2004 to 2016 (around 60%). Conclusions Although the average hospitalization costs in China generally show an upward trend, the percentage of hospitalization costs accounted for the per capita disposable income of household is relatively stable. The study on the indirect economic burden is required to be further carried out. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.
Objective To systematically review the abroad studies on patients for patient safety, and compare them with the current status of domestic studies, so as to provide suggestions for evidence-based strategic decision about how to conduct the education of patients for patient safety and improve the medical quality. Methods The databases of MEDLINE, EMbase and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) were searched to identify the relevant studies and their references. Literatures were screened with data extraction in accordance with the predefined inclusive and exclusive criteria. The quality of literatures was assessed with the standard of Cochrane Handbook 5.0 and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, and the data were comprehensively analyzed with qualitative research methods.Results Among 28 included studies, 5 were Chinese literatures, 1 was RCT, and the others were cross-sectional studies. The results showed that: a) Generally, the patients at home and abroad were poor in the awareness of patient safety, but they were eager to participate in the patient safety; b) Factors affecting patients’ participation were their characteristics, disease-related, and emotional feelings; c) Three studies reported the methods of involving patients in patient safety from the aspects of infection, malpractice, and medication; d) Some studies showed that patients’ participation could effectively promote the standardized operation of medical staffs, prevent unsafe events, and reduce damages; and e) The research contents of the included Chinese literatures were just related to the patients’ awareness of patient safety, attitude to participation, and influencing factors. Conclusion The limited studies relevant to patients for patient safety are short of high-quality RCTs for proving the effectiveness of patient participation methods, so it indicates that the stress should be laid on evaluating the effectiveness of patients for patient safety in future research.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of crizotinib in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodWe electronically searched databases including the Cochrane Library (Issue 5, 2017), PubMed, Embase, China Biology Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Internet Database, VIP Database and Wangfang Data from the establishment to May 2017. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non-RCTs, case series and case reports on crizotinib for NSCLC were included. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, assessed the methodological quality of included studies, then make Meta-analysis and descriptive analysis.ResultA total of 15 studies were included, including 4 RCTs, 1 non-RCT, 4 case series and 6 case reports. The results indicated that the progression-free survival time of crizotinib group was 8 months, which was better than chemotherapy group (4.6 months). The results of Meta-analysis showed that the response rate in the crizotinib group was higher than that in the chemotherapy group [RR=2.35, 95%CI (1.59, 3.46), P<0.000 1]. The one year survival rate in the crizotinib group was 74.5%-78.6%. The incidences of adverse reactions including dysopsia, dysgeusia, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, transaminase lifts, upper respiratory tract infection, edema and dizziness in the crizotinib group were higher than those in the chemotherapy group (P<0.05), while the incidences of adverse reactions including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, alopecia and fatigue in crizotinib group were lower than those in the chemotherapy group (P<0.05). Subgroup analysis under precision treatment showed the progression-free survival time of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive group was 8 months, and it was longer than ALK-negative group of 4 months.ConclusionsBased on current evidence, crizotinib is better than chemotherapy for NSCLC. Due to limited quality of the included studies, the above conclusion needs to be verifed by more high quality studies.
Objective To assess the analgesic effect of caudal bupivacaine with neostigmine for hypospadias surgery in children. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2008), MEDLINE (1966-2008), EMbase (1980-2008), CBMdisc (1978-2008), CNKI (1989-2008) and Wanfang Database using the keywords “bupivacaine”, “neostigmine” and “hypospadias” to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) of caudal bupivacaine with neostigmine versus bupivacaine alone for hypospadias surgery in children. The methodological quality of included RCTs was evaluated by two reviewers independently, and Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.0.13 software. Results We identified 3 RCTs including 160 patients which had an uncertain risk of bias. The results of meta-analysis showed no significant difference found between bupivacine alone and bupivacine plus 1 µg/kg neostigmine (WMD= 0.05, 95%CI – 6.76 to 6.86, P= 0.99), but a difference was found between bupivacine alone and bupivacine plus 1 µg/ kg, 2 µg/kg, or 3 µg/ kg neostigmine (WMD= 12.79, 95%CI 10.96 to 14.62, Plt; 0.000 01; WMD= 12.10, 95%CI – 6.76 to 6.86, Plt; 0.000 01; WMD= 11.90, 95%CI 9.17 to 14.63, Plt;0.000 01). The duration of postoperative analgesia of the bupivacaine with neostigmine group was longer than that of bupivacine alone. Conclusions Because of the small sample size and the unclear risk of bias in the included RCTs, the effectiveness of caudal bupivacaine with neostigmine for postoperative pain management after hypospadias surgery in children is not completely confirmed. So more large sample size, double-blind RCTs are needed.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the pharmacoeconomics of high-dose intravenous iron ferric carboxymaltose in the treatment of patients with iron deficiency anemia. MethodsPharmacoeconomic studies of ferric carboxymaltose in the treatment of patients with iron deficiency anemia were searched in PubMed, The Cochrane Library, York University CRD, Web of Science, EBSCO, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases, and relevant health technology assessment websites from inception to September 30th, 2021. A descriptive analysis was performed after two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. ResultsA total of 11 studies were included, most of them compared the health economics of ferric carboxymaltose with other therapies from a hospital perspective. The main costs included in these studies were costs for iron, infusion, blood transfusion, EPO, hospitalization, and transportation, as well as productivity cost. The ferric carboxymaltose was presumed to be more economical than other intravenous irons. ConclusionIt is suggested that the ferric carboxymaltose be considered in more clinical settings to improve the ischemic condition of patients with iron deficiency anemia, so as to promote the rational utilization of medical resources.