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.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of exercise interventions on thoracic kyphosis in adults. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the objective from inception to November 2022. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed by using RevMan 5.4 software. ResultsA total of 10 RCTs involving 482 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that exercise interventions could reduce kyphosis angle (MD=−5.27, 95%CI −8.37 to −2.17, P<0.01) and improve quality of life (SMD=0.78, 95%CI 0.52 to 1.04, P<0.01) in thoracic kyphosis in adults, but there were no significant differences between the two groups in pain and physical function. ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that exercise interventions can reduce thoracic kyphosis angle and improve quality of life in adults, but the effects on pain and physical function are unclear. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To study the clinical feasibility of invasive mechanical ventilation with bilevel positive airway pressure（BiPAP） non-invasive ventilator in the stable patients needing prolonged mechanical ventilation.Methods Eleven patients with respiratory failure admitted in intensive care unit（ICU）of our department，who needed prolonged mechanical ventilation，between Jun 2004 and Nov 2007 were enrolled in the study and followed until death or Jan 2008.The arterial blood gas analysis data，length of stay(LOS)，LOS after changing to BiPAP non-invasive ventilator（Synchrony，Harmony，RESPIRONICS，VPAP III ST-A，RESMED），survival time after discharge(or fulfilled the discharge standards) were reviewed retrospectively.Results The settings of inspiratory pressure，expiratory pressure and respiratory rate of non-invasive ventilation were 21.3 (16-26) cm H2O，4 cm H2O，and 16 min-1，respectively.The LOS (or up to the discharge standard) was (91.5±50.2) days.The LOS (or up to the discharge standard) after changing to BiPAP ventilator was (23.5±12.2) days.The mean survival time after discharge (or up to the discharge standard) was (353.1±296.5) days.Four patients were still alive up to the end of the study.The arterial pH，PaCO2，PaO2，and SaO2 were not significant different before and after changing to BiPAP ventilator.Conclusion The mechanical ventilation with BiPAP non-invasive ventilator via tracheotomy tube is an alternative choice for stable patients needing prolonged mechanical ventilation.
Objective To observe the effects of sal iva on impaired raw surface so as to elucidate the possible mechanism in wound heal ing by comparing with Yunnan baiyao. Methods Six wounds (2.5 cm × 2.5 cm in size) were establ ished at both sides on the back of 6 3-month-old adult Japanese rabbits (weighing 2.0-2.5 kg). According to treatment, 36 wounds were randomly divided into 3 groups: wounds were treated with 0.4 mL normal sal ine (blank control group, n=12), 0.5 g Yunnan baiyao powder (Yunnan baiyao group, n=12), and 0.4 mL sal iva of health adult (sal iva group, n=12) for 15 days, respectively. And the general observation of raw surface, the scar formation time, wound healing rate, and histopathology were used to evaluate the effectiveness of sal iva on wound heal ing. Results The wound healing speeds of sal iva group and Yunnan baiyao group were faster than that of blank control group. The wound healing rates of sal iva group were significantly higher than those of blank control group and Yunnan baiyao group at 5, 8, and 11 days after injury (P lt; 0.05). No obvious hemorrhage or necrosis of raw surfaces was observed in sal iva group, and the raw surfaces generally were covered with epidermis at 15 days after injury. The inflammatory cells and microvessel density in sal iva group were significantly less than those of Yunnan baiyao group and control group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Sal iva could obviously improve wound heal ing, which is related to its effects on reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, preventing wound infection, accelerating collagen fibers prol iferation, and promoting vessel reconstruction in the process of wound heal ing.
ObjectiveTo explore whether education and management of medical care integration can improve asthma control. MethodsA prospective, 12-month, cohort study was undertaken in a real-world setting based on Australasian severe asthma network (ASAN). A total of 516 patients with stable asthma were consecutively recruited, who received education and management of medical care integration, and step-wise anti-asthma regimens determined by physicians’ standard practice. Furthermore, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) adherence, lung function, asthma symptom control and exacerbation were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. ResultsAt the end of 12 months, ICS adherence (47.7% vs. 81.5%, P<0.05), lung function, and asthma symptoms were assessed by asthma control text (ACT) [20 (16, 23) vs. 23 (21, 24), P<0.05], which were significantly improved in comparison to the status at baseline, and 86.0% of patients achieved total/well-controlled level of asthma. The exacerbation (14.2% vs. 36.2%, P<0.01) and hospitalizations (8.5% vs. 15.3%, P<0.01) because of asthma for the following year significantly decreased compared with those in the past year. The multivariate regression analysis indicated that poor ICS adherence (RR=1.52, 95%CI 1.02 to 2.25, P=0.039), depression symptoms (RR=1.19, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.34, P=0.007), and exacerbation during the past year (RR=2.81, 95%CI 1.49 to 5.27, P=0.001) were associated with an increased risk of future exacerbation. ConclusionIn a real-world setting, most of asthmatics achieve total/well-controlled asthma by education and management of medical care integration including shared decision-making between physicians and patients and step-wise anti-asthma regimens. ICS adherence and depression symptoms independently predict asthma exacerbations, and strengthening education and management of medical care integration, esp. psychological nursing, would improve asthma control levels.
ObjectiveTo explore the association between frailty and in-hospital mortality in older patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods Elderly patients who were hospitalized with AECOPD from June 2022 to December 2022 at a large tertiary hospital were selected. The independent prognostic factors including frailty status were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Mediation effect analysis was used to evaluate the mediating relationships between C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin and in-hospital death. ResultsThe training set included 1 356 patients (aged 86.7±6.6), 25.0% of whom were diagnosed with frailty. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that frailty, mean arterial pressure, Charlson comorbidity index, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, interleukin-6, CRP, albumin, and troponin T were associated with in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, CRP and albumin mediated the associations between frailty and in-hospital mortality. ConclusionFrailty may be an adverse prognostic factor for older patients admitted with an AECOPD. CRP and albumin may be parts of mechanism between frailty and in-hospital death.