Objective To systematically assess the clinical efficacy and safety of cilostazol for preventing ischemic stroke recurrence. Methods Such databases as PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, CNKI, CBM, and VIP were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of cilostazol to prevent ischemic stroke recurrence (up to November, 2010). Two researchers selected studies and extracted data independently using a designed extraction form. The quality of included trials was evaluated and RevMan 5.0 software was used for meta-analyses. Results Four RCTs involving 3 916 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that there were significant differences between cilostazol and aspirin in terms of hemorrhagic stroke occurrence (RR=0.39, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.61, Plt;0.000 1), headache occurrence (RR=1.99, 95%CI 1.16 to 3.43, P=0.01) and dizziness occurrence (RR=1.43, 95%CI 1.13 to 1.79, P=0.002). Whereas, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of ischemic stroke recurrence (RR=0.80, 95%CI 0.61 to 1.04, P=0.10) and transient ischemic attack occurrence (RR=0.93, 95%CI 0.45 to 1.92, P=0.85). Conclusion The current evidence indicates that cilostazol is as effective as aspirin in preventing ischemic stroke recurrence, but with less incidence of hemorrhagic stroke.
Objective To evaluate the effect of clinical pathway (CP) teaching methods versus traditional methods in nursing clinical teaching. Methods The following electronic databases as PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, CBM and CNKI were retrieved on computer from their establishment to April 2011 to search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of comparing CP with traditional methods in nursing clinical teaching. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was assessed by two reviewers independently according to the scale of criteria for methodological quality developed by Smits PB, and the meta-analysis was conducted by using the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan5.1 software. Results A total of 12 RCTs involving 1 269 participants were included, and nine of them were of high quality. The meta-analyses showed that compared with the traditional teaching method, the CP teaching tended to be superior (Plt;0.05) in improving nursing students’ objective knowledge, nursing operating skills, professional ability and satisfaction with teaching methods, and in improving patients’ satisfaction as well. Conclusion The clinical pathway teaching method is a scientific teaching model in nursing clinical teaching; it standardizes the teaching procedure, promotes students’ active learning and further enhances the teaching effect. But it is necessary to unify the method of assessment with more researches. In addition, researchers should pay more attention to improving the comprehensive quality of nursing students.
Fleming proposed the concept of evidence-based pathology (EBP) in 1996. In recent years, there have been a lot of evidence-based studies on the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. However, there are still limitations and challenges in the development, and the growth in application of evidence-based medicine in the pathology is still slow. This study introduced the history of evidence-based pathology, summarized the primary application areas and the latest research progress, analyzed current opportunities and challenges of evidence-based pathology, and provided some suggestions.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of doxepin in the treatment of primary insomnia. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2009), PubMed (1966 to December 2009), EMbase (1974 to December 2009), ISI (1961 to December 2009), CNKI (1979 to December 2009), VIP (1989 to December 2008), CBM (1978 to December 2009), and WANFANG Data (1998 to December 2009). We also searched the correlated grey literature and conference literature for complement. Data were extracted, methodologically evaluated, and cross-checked by two reviewers independently. RevMan 5.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results One randomized controlled trial and three cross trials involving 171 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that total sleep time (TST), wake time during sleep (WTDS), wake time after sleep (WTAS), and sleep efficiency (SE) were improved by low and medium dosage of doxepin (1-25 mg) with statistically significant difference compared with placebo. On the contrary, most indicators of sleep quality had no statistically significant difference between high dose doxepin (50 mg) and placebo. While the sleeping structural indicators of rapid eye movement sleep (REM), rapid-eyemovement latency (REM-L), and sleep stage II (St.II) were changed by high and medium dosage of doxepin (25-50 mg) with statistically significant difference. Conclusions Low and medium dosage of doxepin (1-25 mg) is effective in improvement of the sleep quality in patients with primary insomnia, but it is necessary to concern the side effects and the effects on sleep structure when treating primary insomnia with medium dosage of doxepin (25 mg). High dosage of doxepin (50 mg) is not recommended to treat primary insomnia. However, this conclusion still needs clinical trials to be further validated.
Objective To provide a reference for the best evidence-based medicine (EBM) education modelby retrospective analysis and summary the EBM education model of the EBM center of Lanzhou University for medicalpostgraduates. Methods To utilize students’ spare time we changed the traditional teaching method, and instead used problem based learning and academic discussions to teach postgraduates how to design and apply research. Results Sixtytwo postgraduates were trained and completed 73 research papers and registered 33 Cochrane systematic reviews. Twentythree papers were published in foreign journals (SCI) as first authors, 34 papers were published in domestic journals. Five students received awards in the academic conference of Lanzhou University. Conclusion Medical students will benefit from taking part in EBM research. This education model will help them not only understand the methods of clinical research and EBM and improve the quality of their research and their cooperative skills, but also master related clinical knowledge.
Objective To assess the safety and effectiveness of direct stenting (DS) versus conventional stenting (CS) with predilation in clinical practice. Methods Such databases as PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2011), CBM, VIP and CNKI were searched from the date of their establishment to April 2011, to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on DS vs. CS. The quality of RCTs was critically appraised, and the data were extracted and cross-checked by two reviewers independently. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 24 RCTs involving 6 666 patients were included. The results of Meta-analyses showed that DS took shorter operative time compared with CS (MD=–3.36, 95%CI –4.41 to –2.30, Plt;0.000 01) with acute gain (luminal diameter) during operation (MD=–0.01, 95%CI –0.04 to 0.02, P=0.64). But there were no significant differences in the incidence of major adverse cardiac events during six-month follow-up (OR=0.89, 95%CI 0.69 to 1.14, P=0.35) and restenosis (OR=1.02, 95%CI 0.82 to 1.26, P=0.88). Conclusion Current evidence shows that DS is not superior to CS. This conclusion still needs to be further proved by well-designed and large scale RCTs with longer follow-up duration.
Objective To systematically evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of capecitabine plus docetaxel in the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer where anthracycline has failed as a treatment. Methods We electronically searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library (2008, issue 4), and CBM to Sept. 2008. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs about capecitabine plus docetaxel combination therapy in anthracycline-pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer were identified. Study selection and analyses were undertaken according to the Cochrane Handbook, and RevMan 5.0 was applied for statistical analyses. The following was studied: total survival time, the development time of disease, reaction rate, the mid-survival time, adverse events and quality of life. Results Three RCTs involving 672 patients with metastatic breast cancer were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that the overall survival (MD=3.00, 95%CI 1.64 to 4.36), disease time to progression (MD=1.85, 95%CI 1.15 to 2.55), and the response rate (RR=1.29, 95%CI 1.09 to 1.52) were superior in the combination arm to the docetaxel alone arm. Conclusion The current evidence available shows that the combination of capecitabine and docetaxel may significantly improve the short-term efficacy comparing with docetaxel alone. However, adverse events and long-term efficacy are not clear; more high-quality RCTs should be conducted.
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of MR imaging for anterior cruciate ligament. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CBM, CSJD and CJFD to find all diagnostic tests about MR imaging in anterior cruciate ligament. QUADAS items were used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. We used Meta-disc software for data collection, and sensitivity, specificity and SROC curves were calculated to assess the diagnostic value of individual diagnostic tests. Results Twenty-nine studies met the eligibility criteria and were included. Compared with arthroscope, the summary values of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and SROC curve of MR imaging were 93%, 93%, 9.85, 126.39, and 0.971 4, respectively. Conclusion MR imaging can be regarded as an effective and feasible method for ACL tears diagnosis and screening clinically, based on the results of this systematic review.
Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose urokinase plus conventional treatment versus conventional treatment alone in patients with unstable angina. Methods We searched the database PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, SCI, CBM, CNK, VIP and Wanfang database on line by computer, and handsearched relevant professional journals by two independent screening and extract information. The quality of the included documents was evaluated by the criterion of Cochrane handbook 4.2.6. The cochrane collaboration’s Revman 4.2.10 software was used for data analyses. Results A total of 19 randomized controlled trials were included (2 273 patients) Meta-analyses showed that the low-dose urokinase group was better than the conventional treatment group in efficiency [OR= 4.18, 95%CI (3.24, 5.41)] and ECG [OR= 2.81, 95%CI (2.04, 3.88)], and there were no differences between the two groups in cardiovascular outcomes [OR= 0.74, 95%CI (0.44,1.24)], mucocutaneous bleeding [OR= 1.43, 95%CI (0.90, 2.28)], gums bleeding [OR= 1.88, 95%Cl (0.46, 7.70)] and microscopic hematuria [OR= 3.82, 95%CI (0.77, 18.92)]. Conclusion The low dose urokinase group is higher efficient than the conventional treatment group. As the samples of the included studies are small and their quality is low, more randomized, double-blind, high-quality and big- sample trials are required.
Objective To assess the clinical effectiveness of vacuum-formed versus Hawley retainers in the period of retention. Methods PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data were searched from the date of their establishment to December 31, 2011, to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the clinical effectiveness of vacuum-formed versus Hawley retainers. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by two reviewers independently, and meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.1.4 software. Results Six RCTs including 935 patients were identified. The results of meta-analyses showed significantly fewer changes in irregularity of the maxillary incisors (MD=0.13, 95%CI 0.04 to 0.21) and mandibular incisors (MD=0.29, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.33) in the vacuum-formed group than in the Hawley group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in maxillary intercanine width (MD=?–0.01, 95%CI –0.03 to 0.01), mandibular intercanine width (MD=0.04, 95%CI –0.02 to 0.10), maxillary intermolar width (MD=?–0.01, 95%CI –0.03 to 0.00) and mandibular intermolar width (MD=?–0.02, 95%CI –0.08 to 0.04). The results of qualitative analysis were consistent with the results of meta-analysis and there were no significant differences in overjet and overbite. Conclusion Vacuum-formed retainers are more effective than Hawley retainers at maintaining position of incisors in the period of retention. In other aspects, they are similar. In consideration of the factors such as the limited quality and incomplete measure index of primary studies, RCTs of higher methodological quality are needed.