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.
Due to the lack of head to head direct comparison evidence, applying indirect comparison (ITC) as well as network meta-analysis to compare multiple interventions becomes a new popular and powerful statistical technique. However, its theoretical system still needs improvement. In this article, we briefly introduce and summarize its progress concerning basic concepts, method assumptions, influencing factors of effectiveness, and software for analysis, so as to help researchers better understand the method and promote its application in evidence production.
Objective To systematically analyze and compare the research literature of thoracic surgery simulation-based medical education (SBME) at home and abroad, and provide ideas for the future development of thoracic surgery SBME in China. Methods Using word frequency analysis and cluster analysis as analysis methods, CiteSpace visualization software and Excel statistical software as tools, the domestic and foreign SBME literature retrieved from PubMed and CNKI databases were visualized and statistically analyzed respectively. Results A total of 2 491 domestic and foreign literature on SBME in thoracic surgery were included. The annual number of foreign publications showed an increasing trend. The top three countries in terms of number of publications were the USA (n=581), Canada (n=105) and Germany (n=57); "cardiac surgery", "medical knowledge medical knowledge" and "medical education" are the hotspots of research in the direction of thoracic surgery simulation, while "lung cancer", "surgical training" and "3D printing" were still in the process of explosion. The core research themes were endoscope simulation trainer, scenario-based simulation teaching methods, standardized patients and virtual reality models. Conclusion Domestic SBME in thoracic surgery should learn from foreign development experience, keep up with the frontier and integrate cutting-edge technology, innovate the curriculum and offer non-technical skills teaching, and improve the system and focus on software construction.
Objective To compare the long-term results between theMckay procedure and the musclestrength balancing procedure in treatment of congenital clubfoot (CCF).Methods Thirty-seven children with 54 clubfeet were treated by the muscle-strength balancing procedure (31 feet) or the Mckay procedure (23 feet).There were 27 males (38 feet) and 10 females (16 feet). The average age at the time of surgery was 1.2 years (range, 5 months to 3.5 years). The deformity occurred on the left side in 7 patients, on the right side in 13, and on both sides in 17. During the musclestrength balancing procedure, the anterior tibial tendonwas transplanted to the middle or the lateral cuneiform, and the Achilles tendon was lengthened. During the Mckay procedure, the complete releasing of the softtissues and the lengthening of the tendons were performed routinely; in addition, the abductor hallucis was also excised. The clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Diméglio classification method. According to the Diméglio scoring system, 3 clubfeet were at Grade Ⅱ (score, 6-10); 26 clubfeet at Grade Ⅲ (score, 11-15); 25 clubfeet at Grade Ⅳ (score, 16-20). Based on the Diméglio grading system, all the patients were divided into two groups before operation. Group Aconsisted of 29 feet at Grade Ⅱ or Ⅲ (score, 12.55±1.84); Group B consistedof 25 feet at Grade Ⅳ (score, 17.20±1.08). The score in the group undergoingthe musclestrength balancing procedure was 14.16±2.83, and the score in the group undergoing the Mckay procedure was 15.43±2.63. Results All the patients were followed up for an average of 8.2 years (range, 5.0-10.5 years). According to the Diméglio grading system, 32 patients were at Grade Ⅰand 22 patients at Grade Ⅱ, and none of the patients at Grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ. Two patients undergoing the Mckay procedure developed the postoperative incision infection, but the incision wound healed after the dressing changes. The Diméglio score was 4.07±1.25 in Group A and 6.52±1.74 in Group B after operation, with a significant difference when compared with before operation (Plt;0.05). In Group A the two procedureshad no significant difference in effectiveness (Pgt;0.05); however, in Group B they had a significant difference (Plt;0.05). Judging by the correction degrees for the deformity on the different planes, the two procedures had no significant difference for correcting the equinus of hind foot (Pgt;0.05); however, in the correction degrees for the cross-foot and supination or adduction of the anterior foot, the Mckay procedure was significantly finer than the muscle-strength balancing procedure. It has a good biocompatibility. The mechanical test has showed that the Mckay procedure had the best result in the correction of the forefoot adduction. Conclusion For treatment of congenital clubfoot at Grades Ⅰ-Ⅲ, the musclestrength balancing procedure can achieve an excellent correction result; for treatment of congenital clubfoot at Grade Ⅳ, the Mckay procedure should be performed. No matter whichprocedure, the abductor hallucis excision is recommended to prevent poor correction for the anterior foot adduction.
ObjectiveTo investigate the status of research and development methods of Cochrane overviews. MethodsThe Cochrane Library and PubMed were searched up to March 2014 to identify Cochrane overviews. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed and analyzed search strategy, quality assessment method, data analysis, and study results. ResultsA total of 18 Cochrane overviews were included. Among them, 4 (22.2%) overviews included formal statistical indirect comparison; 8 (44.4%) included only results from direct comparison; 6 (33.4%) only systematically analyzed current studies without data pooling; 12 (66.7%) only searched The Cochrane Library, while 6 (33.3%) expanded search to other databases; 14 (77.8%) applied the AMSTAR tool to assess methodological quality of included literature; 12 (66.7%) applied the GRADE system to assess the quality of evidence; and 9 (50%) yielded new outcomes. ConclusionCurrently, the development and reporting standards of Cochrane overviews are still immature. Investigators should choose proper methods based on research objectives when developing Cochrane overviews.
Indirect comparison refers to a comparison of different healthcare interventions using data from separate studies, and is often used because of a lack of, or insufficient evidence from head-to-head comparative trials. We aimed to summarize the definition, fundamental theory, type, relevant statistical contents, and to clarify some question on how to use indirect comparison, in order to attract more researchers' attention and promote methodological development of indirect comparison.
Objective To provide methodological guidance for the application of matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC). Methods The methodology literature on MAIC was examined to clarify key steps and methodological points, and MAIC application literature in the non-small cell lung cancer field published after January 2016 was systematically reviewed to compare and analyze the current status and problems of MAIC. Results MAIC consisted of five key steps: data source and sample selection, matching variable screening, individual weight calculation, matching validity evaluation, and relative efficacy calculation. The systematic review revealed that studies primarily employed literature reviews to screen data sources, used statistical analysis and other scientific methods to screen matching variables, employed software for individual weight calculation, evaluated matching validity by reporting effective sample size (ESS), calculated relative efficacy using Cox, logistic, and other models, conducted sensitivity analyses to evaluate the uncertainty caused by different data sources and matching variable combinations, and the studies demonstrated good overall reporting standardization but significant differences in particular aspects. Concerning the connection between MAIC and pharmacoeconomic research, studies included mainly used target drugs as the reference group of survival data extrapolation, and proportional hazards (PH) assumptions were considered when utilizing hazard ratios (HR) in extrapolation. Conclusion There are some deficiencies in the method application and reporting standards of MAIC research, such as lack of explanation of data source selection criteria and matching variable screening criteria, insufficient reporting of weight distribution, and inadequate consideration of PH assumptions. It is recommended that future MAIC research systematically screen data sources and report covariate distribution evaluation, covariate status evaluation, weight distribution, uncertainty measurement, etc. Additionally, considering PH assumptions after calculating HR is suggested.
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are currently the gold standard for the treatment effect comparisons; however, it is sometimes not feasible to conduct an RCT due to ethical and economic reasons. In the absence of evidence for head-to-head RCT direct comparison, the indirect comparison technique is an effective and resource-saving alternative. Matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) is an attractive method in the field of population-adjusted indirect comparisons between two trials. It can adjust for between-trial imbalances in the distribution of observed covariates by weighting the available individual patient data of the studied intervention and then match the aggregated data of the controlled intervention. Subsequently, the treatment effect comparison can be evaluated through the post-matched population. Although MAIC is gaining increasing attention in clinical research, especially in the evaluation of new drugs, efforts are still largely required for knowledge dissemination in China. In this paper, we briefly introduced the concepts, research value and examples, and pros and cons of MAIC.
In recent years, clinical research in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has witnessed vigorous development, with increasingly close integration with clinical epidemiological methodologies. However, certain controversies persist, such as the difficulty in aligning epidemiology’s population-based perspective with TCM’s principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment and the characteristics of individualized diagnosis and treatment. This paper reviews the development and current status of TCM clinical research, integrating the practice rules of TCM, and analyzes the manifestations and applicability of the basic characteristics of epidemiology in TCM clinical research. The study shows that epidemiological concepts and characteristics are fully compatible with the practical features of TCM clinical practice and its research needs. Moreover, epidemiological techniques can effectively uncover and elucidate the scientific basis of TCM clinical practice. Building on these analyses, we propose future directions for TCM clinical research, aiming to promote the integration of epidemiology and TCM clinical research and advance TCM clinical research to a higher level.
ObjectivesTo assess the accuracy of different types and magnetic field intensity of cardiac magnetic resonance for coronary artery disease.MethodsPubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, WanFang Data, CNKI and CBM databases were searched to collect the studies on different types and magnetic field intensity of cardiac magnetic resonance for coronary artery disease from inception to May 15th, 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, data were synthesized by using MetaDisc 1.4, RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0 softwares. The pooled sensitivity (Sen), pooled specificity (Spe), pooled positive likelihood ratio (+LR), pooled negative likelihood ratio (–LR), pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and the area under curve (AUC) of the summary receiver-operating characteristic curve (SROC) were used to assess the diagnostic value of different types and magnetic field intensity of cardiac magnetic resonance.ResultsTwenty diagnostic studies were included, which involved 1 357 patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that (1) based on patient: compared with the gold standard, the pooled Sen, Spe, +LR, –LR, DOR and the AUC of SROC, pre-test probability, post-test probability were (0.87, 95%CI 0.82 to 0.90), (0.88, 95%CI 0.82 to 0.92), (7.33, 95%CI 4.74 to 11.32), (0.15, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.20), (49.53, 95%CI 27.46 to 89.36), (0.93, 95%CI 0.91 to 0.95), 20.00% and 65.00%, respectively. (2) Based on blood vessels: the pooled Sen, Spe, +LR, –LR, DOR and the AUC of SROC, pre-test probability, post-test probability were (0.81, 95%CI 0.76 to 0.85), (0.87, 95%CI 0.81 to 0.91), (6.37, 95%CI 4.37 to 9.30), (0.22, 95%CI 0.17 to 0.27), (29.58, 95%CI 18.53 to 47.22), (0.89, 95%CI 0.86 to 0.92), 20.00% and 61.00%, respectively. (3) Subgroup analysis showed that there was no difference in AUROC of different types of cardiac magnetic resonance, but significant difference was found in AUROC of 1.5T and 3.0T magnetic field intensity.ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that, compared with gold standard, cardiac magnetic resonance can be regarded as an effective and feasible method for preoperative staging of breast cancer.