Objective To develop a preliminary "pulmonary nodule symptom scale" based on the Delphi method, providing a tailored, standardized, normalized, and promotable symptomatic evaluation tool for the efficacy assessment of pulmonary nodule patients treated with traditional Chinese medicine or integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine interventions. Methods A preliminary pool of scale items was formed through literature review, interviews with doctors and patients, and reference to guidelines and consensus on pulmonary nodules and patient-reported outcome (PRO) scales related to lung cancer. Two rounds of expert consultation were conducted using the Delphi method. Based on the concentration and variation indicators of expert evaluations, and considering experts’ suggestions for specific item deletions and modifications, a core group meeting was held to screen and refine the scale items. Results Invitations were sent to 54 experts, with 51 accepting the consultation. The active coefficient for the first round of consultation was 94.4%, and for the second round, it was 100%. The average authority coefficient for the 51 experts was 0.896. The Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and the average coefficient of variation for the first and second rounds of consultation were 0.215 (P<0.001) and (0.34±0.07), 0.162 (P<0.001) and (0.24±0.05), respectively. Through two rounds of Delphi expert consultation, a preliminary "pulmonary nodule symptom scale" covering 17 items across four dimensions - respiratory symptoms, systemic manifestations, psychological state, and overall assessment - was formed. Conclusion The experts participating in this Delphi consultation had high authority and enthusiasm, and they have a good level of acceptance and consistency for the preliminary "pulmonary nodule symptom scale". Subsequent empirical research will be conducted on a large sample cohort of pulmonary nodule patients to verify the scale’s stability and effectiveness.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) and open hepatectomy (OH) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data, CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect the case-control studies about LH vs. OH for patients with HCC from inception to December, 2015. 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. Results A total of 28 studies involving 1 908 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: the LH group was superior to OH group on complications (OR=0.35, 95%CI 0.26 to 0.48, P<0.000 01), hospital stay (MD=–4.18, 95%CI (–5.08, –3.29),P<0.000 01), and five years overall survival rate (OR=1.65, 95%CI 1.23 to 2.19,P=0.000 7) and disease-free survival rate (OR=1.51, 95%CI 1.12 to 2.03, P=0.006). However, no significant differences were found in one year and three years overall survival rate, disease-free survival rate, and postoperative recurrence rate. Conclusion Current evidence shows that the LH is superior to OH for the treatment of HCC, and may be amenable to surgery because of its safety and longtime efficacy. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify above conclusion.
Objective This is a meta-analysis of the efficacy of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) with helmet compared to NIV with face mask in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). Methods " Helmet, face mask or facial mask” and " mechanical ventilation or noninvasive ventilation” were used as key words both in Chinese and English to search all the trials in PubMed, OVID, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library, websites, reference lists of articles, CNKI and Wanfang Database from inception to December 2016. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the trials and extracted information. Revman 5.3 was used for data analysis. Results Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and six case-control trials were included. NIV with a helmet reduced the intubation rate (OR=0.35, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.51, P<0.000 01), in-hospital mortality rate (OR=0.51, 95%CI 0.34 to 0.76, P=0.001), and NIV-related complications (OR=0.10, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.15, P<0.000 01) compared to NIV with face mask. There was no significant difference in gas exchange between two groups. In the subgroup analysis, types of ARF and ventilation mode did not affect the intubation rate and the complications relevant to NIV, but NIV with helmet mainly decreased the in-hospital mortality of the patients with hypoxemic ARF or pressure support ventilation. Conclusions NIV with a helmet can decrease the endotracheal intubation rate, in-hospital mortality, and NIV-related complications of the patients with ARF. And helmet is as effective as face mask in improving the gas exchange. However, larger or multicenter RCTs are needed to analyze the role of NIV with a helmet in this condition.
Objective To discuss the relationship between recovery of anatomical integrity and functional outcome in elderly patients with distal radius fractures by comparing the effects of open reduction and closed reduction. Methods The cl inical data were retrospectively analyzed from 78 elderly patients with distal radius fractures treating with nonoperation andoperation from February 2005 to March 2009. Thirty-seven patients underwent closed reduction and spl intlet fixation or cast appl ication (non-operation group), and forty-one patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation (operation group). In non-operation group, there were 15 males and 22 females with an average age of 73 years (60-83 years). According to the AO classification system for fracture, there were 8 cases of type A2, 7 cases of type A3, 7 cases of type B1, 4 cases of type B2, 2 cases of type B3, 4 cases of type C1, 2 cases of type C2, and 3 cases of type C3. The time from injury to admission was between 30 minutes and 3 days with a mean time of 1 day. In operation group, there were 18 males and 23 females with an average age of 71 years (62-80 years). According to the AO classification system for fracture, there were 5 cases of type A2, 7 cases of type A3, 7 cases of type B1, 6 cases of type B2, 3 cases of type B3, 4 cases of type C1, 5 cases of type C2, and 4 cases of type C3. The time from injury to admission was between 30 minutes and 7 days with a mean time of 1 day. There were no significant differences (P gt; 0.05) in sex, age, disease course and fracture classification between two groups. Results All incisions obtained heal ing by first intention after operation in operation group. All patients were followed up for 9-36 months (20 months on average). Fracture heal ing was achieved within 8 to 15 weeks, with an average of 11 weeks. There were no significant differences (P gt; 0.05) in fracture heal ing time between non-operation group [(10.8 ± 2.0) weeks] and operation group [(11.7 ± 2.5) weeks]. At last follow-up, thepalmar tilt angle was (5.6 ± 2.0)° and (8.6 ± 3.0)°, the radial incl ination angle was (19.1 ± 4.9)° and (21.8 ± 2.0)°, and the radial length was (8.3 ± 1.3) mm and (10.4 ± 1.4) mm in non-operation group and operation group, respectively; showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05) between two groups. According to the Gartland-Werley score, the results were excellent in 9 cases, good in 21 cases, fair in 5 cases, and poor in 2 cases in non-operation group, the excellent and good rate was 81.1%; in operation group, the results were excellent in 13 cases, good in 25 cases, fair in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case, the excellent and good rate was 92.7%, showing no significant difference (P gt; 0.05) between two groups. There were no significant differences (P gt; 0.05) in flexion and extension activity of wrist, radioulnar partial activity, pronation-supination activity, grip and pinch strength between two groups. Conclusion Open reduction and closed reduction can achieve satisfactory functional outcomes, but closed reduction was inferior to open reduction in anatomic reduction for treating distal radius fractures in elderly patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety tolerance of perampanel in the treatment of Chinese adult epilepsy patients. Methods Clinical data of adult epileptic patients treated with perampanel in Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University from January 2020 to December 2022 were analyzed retrospectively by self-control method, including demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, changes of epileptic seizures before and after perampanel treatment and adverse events during the treatment of perampanel. To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of perampanel in Chinese adult epileptic patients. Results A total of 69 adult epileptic patients with complete follow-up data were included. The dosage range of perampanel was 2 ~ 8 mg. The total effective rate was 68.1%, and the seizure-free rate was 17.4%. The most common adverse reactions were mood change and dizziness, the incidence of adverse reactions was 52.2%, and the incidence of serious adverse reactions was 0.0%. In terms of analysis of influencing factors of efficacy, the results showed that single drug therapy or combination therapy, type of combined antiepileptic drug and treatment time of perampanel did not affect the efficacy (P>0.05), while dosage was an important factor affecting the efficacy of perampanel (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in efficacy between the focal epilepsy group and the general epilepsy group (P>0.05). In terms of the analysis of factors related to the occurrence of adverse reactions, the results showed that the occurrence of adverse reactions was related to the dosage of perampanel (P<0.05), and was independent of whether it was monotherapy, the addition time of perampanel and the type of combined antiepileptic agents (P>0.05). Conclusion Perampanel has good efficacy and safety tolerance in the treatment of epilepsy in Chinese adults. Both monotherapy and additive therapy can effectively control seizures, and has a good effect on different seizure types. The most common adverse events during treatment were mood changes and dizziness, which could be alleviated and tolerated by most patients with prolonged treatment.
Objective To investigate whether de-escalation antibacterial therapy would be helpful to antifungal treatment in patients with invasive pulmonary fungal infection( IPFI) .Methods A prospective study was conducted in 174 IPFI patients( male 106, female 68) in the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2008 to July 2010. The clinical data was collected including symptoms, physical signs,microbiological results, treatment and prognosis, etc. The therapeutic results were compared between the patients who received or did not receive de-escalation antibacterial therapy. Results The predominant pathogenic fungus was Candida albicans, which accounted for 59. 7% of IPFI. The effect of antifungal therapy showed statistically significant difference between the patients who received de-escalation antibacterial therapy and the patients who did not ( 60. 0% vs. 34. 5% , P =0. 001) . Conclusion The deescalation use of antibacterial therapy would be helpful to antifungal efficacy.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of intravertebral analgesia for external cephalic version. Methods We electronically searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2009), PubMed (1980 to 2009), Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to 2009), Ovid EBM Database (1991 to 2009), EMbase (1980 to 2009), CBM (1978 to 2009) and CNKI (1979 to 2009) to collect literature about intravertebral analgesia for external cephalic version. We screened randomized controlled trials (RCTs) according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and evaluated the quality of the included studies, and then performed meta-analyses by using RevMan 5.0.13 software. Results Seven RCTs involving 620 women met the inclusion criteria. Five trials were of relatively high quality, and 1 of low quality and 2 not clear. The result of meta-analyses showed that intravertebral analgesia was superior in external cephalic version with a RR 1.53 and 95%CI 1.24 to 1.88. Conclusion Intravertebral analgesia can increase the successful rate of external cephalic version in the treatment of breech presentation compared with intravenous medicine for systematic use or no analgesia.
ObjectiveTo compare the early efficacy between Quadrant channel and traditional method in treating lumbar disc herniation. MethodBetween July 2010 and December 2012, 60 patients with lumbar disc herniation were randomly divided into two groups with 30 in each. Quadrant channel and traditional method were used respectively to do the same one single segmental pedicle screw fixation with single pieces of cage bone grafting fusion and internal fixation. Then, we compared the two groups in incision length, operative time, blood loss, incision healing time and postoperative incidence of low back pain between the two groups of patients. ResultsThere were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of operation time, blood loss, and recent curative effect (P>0.05), while Quadrant channel was superior in small skin incision, reduced incidence of low back pain, and shorter postoperative incision healing time (P<0.05). ConclusionsTreatment of lumbar disc herniation using Quadrant channel is minimally invasive with less complications. Mid-and long-term efficacy remains to be further analyzed.
Objective To explore the short-term efficacy and safety of intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) in the treatment of retinal artery occlusion (RAO) with the assistance of the rescue green channel in the eye stroke center. Methods A prospective, interventional, single-center study. Thirty-eight eyes from 38 RAO patients who received IAT treatment in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital were enrolled. All the patients were rescued via the green channel in our eye stroke center. Data from comprehensive ocular examinations including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were collected. BCVA was measured with Snellen chart and converted to the logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) unit for statistical analysis. RTVue XR OCTA was used to measure vascular densities (VD) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC), and central retinal thickness (CRT). All RAO eyes attempted IAT treatment and 34 eyes were successful. Four eyes failed to complete IAT because of the occlusion of internal or common carotid arteries on the same side with the RAO eyes. Ocular examinations in post-operative 1-3 days were performed with the same devices and methods as those before surgery. Parameters measured before and after surgery include BCVA, VD of SCP, DCP, RPC, and CRT. Data of the green channel collected include the time intervals from onset of RAO to first presentation in local hospitals, and from onset of RAO to our eye stroke center. Comparisons of VD and CRT between the RAO eyes and contralateral healthy eyes were performed with independent samples Mann-Whitney U test; comparisons of VD and CRT in RAO eyes before and after IAT surgery were performed with paired samples Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Results Among the 34 RAO patients who had successful IAT surgery, 18 (52.9%, 18/34) were males and 16 (47.1%, 16/34) were females; the mean age was (51.0±12.9) years old. There were 30 and 4 eyes diagnosed as central RAO and branch RAO respectively. The logMAR BCVA before and after IAT surgery was 2.52±0.61 and 2.18±0.85 respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.453, P=0.002). Before surgery, VD of SCP, DCP and RPC were significantly decreased and CRT was significantly increased in the affected eye compared with the contralateral healthy eyes, with the statistical significance (P<0.001). Compared with those before surgery, the VD of SCP and DCP were significantly improved after surgery (Z=-2.523, -2.427; P=0.010, 0.014), while there was no difference in VD of RPC and CRT (Z=-1.448, -1.454; P=0.150, 0.159). The time interval between onset of RAO and first visit to the hospital was (6.56±6.73) hours; the time interval between onset of RAO and the arrival at our hospital was (24.11±19.90) hours. No cerebral stroke was observed in the early post-operative period and no cerebrocardiovascular events were observed later. he time interval between onset of RAO and the arrival at our hospital was (24.11±19.90) hours. No cerebral stroke was observed in the early post-operative period and no cerebrocardiovascular events were observed later. Conclusions The short-term efficacy and safety of IAT in the treatment of RAO were satisfactory. The rescue time window might be prolonged.
With the advancement of modern research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), evidence regarding the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of action of TCM has rapidly accumulated. However, due to a lack of methodological safeguards, the disconnection between clinical and basic research in TCM has become increasingly prominent, making it difficult to form an evidence chain that supports the scientific value of TCM in a manner that is "clear and understandable". Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods for the translation and integration of clinical and basic research evidence oriented towards clinical value, to form a reliable evidence chain that can further discover patterns, confirm efficacy, and highlight advantages. This article discusses the construction and evaluation methods of the evidence chain for the efficacy of TCM, aiming to provide theoretical and methodological references for related work.