Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a kind of intractable disease which threatens human health severely. The results of operation are unsatisfactory. Clinical drug therapy is the major treatment which aims to relieve symptoms, improve the quality of life, and prevent the disease from progressing. Over the last several years, the studies of stem cells provide a new direction for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. It's demonstrated that the therapeutic effects of stem cells are better than that of the traditional methods. With the deepening of the researches, the therapy of stem cells is more and more compelling. The therapy of stem cells for pulmonary arterial hypertension is reviewed in this paper.
Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical information of a series of patients with cryptococcal neoformans meningitis in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment level. Methods Fifteen patients with etiological diagnosis as cryptococcal neoformans meningitis from January 2004 to December 2009 in the Affiliated Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were included in the study. The clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of those patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results Seven of the total 15 patients were misdiagnosed with misdiagnosis rate of 46.7%. Twelve patients were treated by combination of amphotericin B/Lipo-AMB and fluconazole intravenously infusion, and then followed by the maintenance therapy of fluconazole orally administration, of which 7 were cured, 3 were improved, and 2 died. Five patients undergoing lumbar cisterna drainage were all cured. The follow-up study showed that 4 cases were accompanied by auditory or/and visual dysfunction within 1 to 5 years after hospital discharge. Three cases died that were not treated with anti-fungal drugs. Conclusion The misdiagnosis rate of cryptococcal neoformans meningitis is high. The keys to reduce mortality are raising vigilance, early diagnosis, rational use of antifungal drugs, and effectively lowering the intracranial pressure. The integrated therapy of amphotericin B/Lipo-AMB and fluconazole is effective and safe. Lumbar cisterna drainage can effectively lower the intracranial hypertension, quickly relieve symptoms and improve prognosis.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine therapies (TCMT) for prostatitis. Methods We searched Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR), China EBM/Cochrane center database (CEBM/CCD), PubMed, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Papers on Academic Conference of China (PACC), Chinese Dissertation Database Full-Text (CDDBFT), and Evidence-based Traditional Chinese Medicine Database (EBTCMD). All searches were updated on January 15, 2007. We also performed a manual search of the RCTs of TCMT for prostatitis among periodicals related to TCM, researched the related studies by correlative websites, such as “Baidu” and “Google”, gray literatures, and studies included in the references of eligible studies. At least two reviewers independently screened the studies for eligibility, evaluated the quality, and extracted the data from the eligible literatures, with a cross-check to confirm accuracy. Different views were settled by a third party. We evaluated the quality of eligible studies with the revised Jadad’s scale, and extracted valid data using data tables. Meta-analyses were performed for homogeneous studies using RevMan 4.3 software. If heterogeneity existed among the studies, descriptive analysis was conducted. The potential publication-bias was analyzed by funnel plot analysis. Results A total of 52 randomized clinical trials of TCMT for prostatitis (n=5 209) among 1 282 original studies were identified. The methodological quality ranked high in 9 RCTs (the revised scale were ≥ 4 scores), and 22 RCTS reported the methods of random sequence production. The analysis indicated some TCMT were more effective than the treatments in the controls in relieving the proatatitis patients’ pain or discomfort, paruria, impact of symptoms and NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), improving the EPS-WBC and urine flow rate etc. Of the trials, 29 randomized clinical trials of TCMT for prostatitis that studied safety (n=2 502) were identified. The methodological quality ranked high in 8 RCTs (the revised scale were ≥ 4 scores), and 18 RCTs reported the method of random sequence production. Analysis indicated some TCMT may cause lower digestive tract symptoms when compared to the control therapies and some Chinese herbs formulas- may cause sexual disfunction. Conclusion Some TCMT may be more effective than the controls in relieving the patients’ pain or discomfort, paruria, impact of symptoms and NIH-CPSI, improving the prostatic tenderness with DRE, improving the EPS-WBC, lecithin lipophore, and urine flow rate etc. However, some TCMT of the trials included may cause lower digestive tract symptoms when compared to the controls, and some Chinese herbs formulas cause sexual disfunction. Because of the generally low methodological quality and the variations of the herbs used, the overall effects cannot be pooled for analysis. More evidence is needed to support this finding.
Objective To formulate the treatment of Barrett esophagus and provide evidence-based solutions for doctors and patients. Methods We attempted to obtain evidence for treating Barrett esophagus by searching MEDLINE (1978 to 2005), CBMdisc (1978 to 2005) and The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2005). The quality of the retrieved evidence was evaluated. Results The therapies for Barrett esophagus include dietary intervention, change of life style, drug therapy, endoscopic therapy and surgery. We should choose different therapies according to the specific conditions of patients. Conclusions Endoscopic therapy has been developed a lot in recent years. The combination of two or more therapies may produce better effects.
Objective To explore the effectiveness and safety of exchange of cerebrospinal fluid in the treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage （SAH）. Methods Sixty SAH patients diagnosed by CT and lumbarpuncture were randomly assigned into a control group （n =30, received conventional treatment） and a treatment group （n =30, received exchange of cerebrospinal fluid plus conventional treatment）. The main complications and effectiveness between the two groups were compared. SPSS 10.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results Compared with the control group, complications of persistent headache （ P =0.002 and 0. 007 respectively）, cerebral vasospasm （ P =0. 028 ） and hydrocephalus （ P =0. 038 ） were fewer in the treatment group. No significant difference in the incidence of rehaemorrhagia was found between the two groups （P = 1. 000）. Better effectiveness was observed in the treatment group （RR. 3.00, 95% CI 1. 014 to 8. 880, P = 0. 044 ）. Conclusions Exchange of cerebrospinal fluid plus conventional treatment is more effective than conventional treatment alone in the treatment of SAH.
Objective To assess the benefits and harms of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods We electronically searched MEDLINE (1966-2003), EMBASE (1974-2003), Controlled Trials Register and The National Research Register, The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2003, CBM disc, VIP, CNKI, and CMCC. We also handsearched some related journals. The search was conducted in Nov., 2003. The quality of included randomized controlled trials was evaluated and meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan 4.2.2. Results We identified 33 studies including 2 337 patients and 27 traditional Chinese medicines. Some traditional Chinese medicines alone or integrated Chinese and Western medicine may be effective for improving patients’ bone mineral density, serum oestradiol and serum calcium. For example, Compared with placebo, Bushen Yigu soft extraction with WMD 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 0.87, Bushen Qianggu capsule with WMD 39.94, 95% confidence interval 35.12 to 44.76 were effective for improving the level of serum oestradiol.There were no confirmed results of the other traditional Chinese medicines because of the small number of studies or inconsistent conclusions among studies. We didn’t find obvious side effects. Conclusions Some traditional Chinese medicines may be effective for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. Due to the limited evidence identified, we can not draw a firm conclusion. More randomised controlled trials of high quality are needed for ber evidence.
Objective To compare effects of intra-articular injection of corticosteroid or viscoelastic agent alone or a combination of the two drugs for treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Methods A prospective quasirandomized controlled trial was conducted to compare 3 treatment protocols of intra-articular injections in the upper compartment of the joint immediately following arthrocentesis repeatedly every 10 days: ① triamcinolone 8 mg alone for 3 times, ② 1% hyaluronate 1 ml alone for 4 times, and ③ triamcinolone 8 mg for 2 times then 1% hyaluronate 1 ml for 2 times. Clinical examinations were done at baseline, 1, 12, and 24 months after end of the treatments. According to improvement of the symptoms and clinical signs, the effectiveness was graded in 3 classes: excellent, better, no change, or worse. The first two were classified as effective. Effective rates of the treatments and subgroups were compared statistically. Results Five hundred and sixty four patients with temporomandibular disorders were included and randomly allocated to 3 groups with 188 patients in each group. The rate of lost follow up at 24 months was 6.9% to 10.1%. At one month after treatment, the triamcinolone group had a better effective rate at 92.0%. At 12 and 24 months of follow up, effective rates of the hyaluronate group were better than those in the triamcinolone alone group (84.6% vs. 54.1% and 83.4% vs. 40.4%). Effective rates of combining triamcinolone and hyaluronate group at 12 and 24 months were 90.4% and 66.3% respectively. Conclusion Intra-articular injection of corticosteroid has better results in a short term and hyaluronate has better results in a long term in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of leflunomide for rheumatoid arthritis, and formulate an evidence-based treatment plan for a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods We searched the ACP Journal Club, The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2007) and MEDLINE (1990 to 2007), and critically appraised the available evidence. Results The available Level A (high quality) evidence showed that the efficacy and adverse events of leflunomide were comparable to those of methotrexate. The total cost of treating patients with leflunomide was significantly higher when compared to methotrexate. The combination of leflunomide and methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis unresponsive to methotrexate monotherapy was less costly and more effective than the strategy excluding leflunomide. Given the current evidence, together with our clinical experience and the patient’s preference, methotrexate was administered to the patient. There was an inadequate response after 6 months of treatment. And then, adding leflunomide to methotrexate attained a remarkable response 3 months later. The patient is still being followed up. Conclusion treatment with leflunomide and methotrexate in RA patients can improve the clinical outcomes. Long-term efficacy and toxicity remain to be established.
Objective We searched the best available evidence to provide a basis for the medical or palliative surgical treatment of a patient suffering from terminal colon cancer, complicated by intestinal obstruction (malignant intestinal obstruction), so as to improve the patient’s quality of life and alleviate her clinical symptoms. Methods We formed the clinical question according to the PICO principle. We searched for systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials in The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2007), MEDLINE (PubMed, January 1950 to March 2007) and ACP Journal Club (January 1991 to March 2007), and evaluated the evidence retrieveds.?Results We found that both scopolamine and octreotide could alleviate nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, but that octreotide was superior to scopolamine in reducing the secretion of gastric acid. Metoclopramide was effective in relieving fatigue, vomiting and intestinal obstruction associated with advanced cancer. A nasogastric tube may be used to drain the secretions before the administration of medical treatment, but long-term use tubes may make patients intolerable and induced side effects, such as necrosis of nasal mucous membrane and infection. At present, empirical palliative surgery was used for the management of malignant intestinal obstruction. This varied in different regions, and so the patients’ clinical condition should be taken into consideration. Being informed of the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment regimens, the patient and her family made the final decision.Conclusion The current evidence suggests that medical treatment can improve quality of life and alleviate clinical symptoms for a patient suffering from terminal colon cancer complicated with intestinal obstruction. However, the effect of palliative surgical treatment remains to be proved, and the decision about the appropriate treatment needs to consider the patients’ condition and the doctors’ clinical experiences.
Objective To investigate the effect of nursing practice on the treatment compliance in schizophrenic inpatients.Methods A total of 196 inpatients with schizophrenia met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups: the rountine nursing group (n=96) and the trial group (n=100). The trial group followed the paths of evidence-based nursing by confirming the affected facts of compliance, collecting the evidence, evaluating the evidence and incorporating this into nursing practice. The change of compliance was evaluated and two groups were scored by NOSIE-30 and BPRS at the beginning and 3 months later, respectively.Results The trial group had a significant improvement (Plt;0.05) on using the chosen treatment and had a lower relapse rate. Conclusions Implementing evidence-based nursing practice has a positive effect on the compliance with treatment of inpatients with schizophrenia.