Objectives To analyze the effect of improved oven for defluorination in coal-burning endemic fluorosis areas in China, and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of fluorosis. Methods Electronic databases including CNKI, CBM, VIP and CDMD-D (1989 to 2005), were searched. We also checked the reference lists of relevant articles. We selected relevant articles according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The methodological quality was assessed . Data on room heat preservation and the effect of improved oven for defluorination were collected in the surveillance spots of Three Gorges Reservoir. Correlation analyses were conducted between the improved oven and its effect parameters. Results Twelve articles of low quality met the selection criteria, of which 9 were graded C and 3 were graded D in terms of the methodological quality. A negative correlation was found between the decreasing rate of normal oven use and the decreasing rate of dental fluorosis as well as of urine fluorine (Pearson correlation coefficient r = – 0.87, – 0.63, Plt;0.01, lt;0.05, respectively). Analysis also revealed a positive correlation between room heat preservation and the decreasing rate of dental fluorosis as well as of normal oven use (the two Spearman correlation coefficients and P values were the same: r = –1.00, Plt;0.01). Conclusion High-quality studies on the effect of improved oven for defluorination in China are not available. Based on the current evidence, the improved oven for defluorination and the correct use, maintenance and house rebuilding for heat preservation may help to prevent fluorosis.
Through searching and evaluating the evidence on advanced prostate cancer, we found that different types of androgen deprivation had similar effect, and immediate androgen deprivation had survival benefit. For the patient with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, therapies including mitoxantrone, prednisone, docetaxel and surmine were more effective. Strontium-89 provided more effective pain relief than external beam radiation. And bisphophonate had no effect. Antiandrogen withdrawal suggested prostate specific antigen would decline, but the clinical outcome wasn’t reported.
Objective To search evidence in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome （Ph）-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia （ALL） for guiding chnical practice. Methods We searched MEDLINE （February, 1970～July, 2005 ） and SUMSEAILCH （till July, 2005 ）to identify systematic reviews（SIL）, randomized controlled trials（RCTs） and controlled clinical trials （CCTs） in the treatment of Ph-positive ALL. Results One RCT and 8 CCTs were identified. The results showed that Ph-positive ALL had a very poor prognosis . Chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation （BMT） were the two main ways to treat the disease. Outcome of conventional chemotherapy treatment for adults with the disease was poor. Outcome of treatment with hyper-CVAD and imatinib mesylate was better and BMT was the only way which could potentially cure the disease. Conclusions Treatment of Ph-positive ALL with hyper-CVAD and imatinib mesylate may induce higher remission rate and disease free survival rate. BMT is the best way to cure the disease.
ObjectiveTo seek the evidencebased medicine (EBM) evidences of curative effects of intravitreous injection with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for macular edema.MethodsAll articles of intravitreous injection TA for macular edema published in English or Chinese were picked up from databases of MEDLINE and CNKI and then evaluated according to EBM standard. The data in accord with research standard were selected by using excluding and including criteria, and classified according to the appraisal standard of clinical therapeutic documents. ResultsIn the selected papers, none in gradeⅠevidence; 1 in gradeⅡevidence; 7 in grade Ⅲ evidence; 24 in grade Ⅳ evidence; and 19 in gradeⅤevidence. Forty-two papers reported that intravitreous injection with TA had significant effect for macular edema within 3 months, and the improvement of visual acuity was recorded in these papers. Regression of macular edema was recorded in 23 papers. Among 20 papers, side-effect was found in 93 eyes (31.41%) and the serious sideeffect in 4 eyes (1.35%).ConclusionsIntravitreous injection with TA has some curative effects for macular edema in short term, but the quality of current study has not been encouraging. There are no grade I document and lack of the study of validity in long term and essentiality and validity of retreatment. The special attention should be payed on the increasing persistency of efficacy and preventing the serious side-effects in the future investigation.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:220-223)
Objective To summarize the available clinical evidence on the treatment of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Methods Based on the basic methods and principles of evidence-based medicine, we searched and evaluated the NPDR-related evidence from the Cochrane Library(Issue 3,2007), PubMed (1966 to June 2007) and CBM(1979 to June 2007) Results We finally identified 1 systematic review and 20 randomized controlled trials. Clinical evidence showed that critical glycemic control and blood pressure control were essential in the treatment of NPDR, which might delay the progression of retinopathy. The effectiveness of other therapeutic measures needed to be further investigated. Conclusion NPDR is the early stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Relevant systematic reviews and high-quality randomized controlled trials have confirmed the effectiveness of critical control of blood glucose and blood pressure for NPDR. The effectiveness of other therapeutic measures needs to be confirmed by systematic reviews of high quality and rigorously designed randomized, multi-center and large-scale trials.
The comparative diagnostic test accuracy (CDTA) study is an important part of diagnostic test accuracy, which aims to compare the accuracy of two or more index tests in the same study. With the development of CDTA studies and the methodology of systematic reviews, the number of CDTA systematic reviews has grown year by year and has provided evidence to support clinical decision-making. Compared with systematic review of single diagnostic test accuracy, the CDTA systematic review has its own unique features, especially in data extraction, risk of bias, and statistical analysis. This paper introduced the steps and precautions for writing a CDTA systematic review to provide references for CDTA systematic reviewers.