Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of oral appliance (OA) vs. continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in treating patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Methods The following databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, VIP, WanFang data and CNKI were searched from inception to November 30, 2012 to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on OA vs. CPAP in treating OSAHS. The relevant conference proceedings were also retrieved without limitation of type and publication time. In accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and evaluated quality. And then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. Besides, the level of evidence was graded using GRADEpro 3.6 software. Results A total of 7 RCTs were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: a) compared with OA, CPAP significantly reduced the degree of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (WMD=9.13, 95%CI 8.77 to 9.50, Plt;0.000 01); and b) there was no significant difference in the Epworth sleeping scale (ESS) between OA and CPAP (WMD=0.00, 95%CI −0.12 to 0.12, P=0.97). Conclusion Compared with OA, CPAP takes remarkable effects in improving AHI for mild to moderate OSAHS, but it shows no significant difference in improving ESS. For the quality and quantity limitation of the included studies, this conclusion still needs to be proved by conducting more high quality RCTs.
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect, safty and tolerance of Gankeshuangqing Capsule in the treatment of patients suffering from wind-heat syndrome (acute upper respiratory infection or acute bronchitis). Methods The clinical trials were designed multicentered, double blind, double dummy, randomized and parallel positive drug controlled. A total of 289 patients participated in the trials. Those who suffered from acute upper respiratory infection were given throat virus-detection to make a definite diagnosis of the origins of disease. Results Among the 40 patients who were diagnosed with virus infection, 81.82% in Gankeshuangqing group were healed, but only 50.00% in control group, and significant differences were observed between the two groups (Plt;0.05). At the end of the third day of treatment, the rates of cure and excellence in patients suffering from acute upper respiratory infection were 80.00% in Gankeshuangqing group, and 68.57% in control group, and both groups showed good therapeutic effect，but there was no significant difference between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). At the end of the seventh day of treatment, the rates of cure and excellence in patients suffering from acute bronchitis were 82.35% in Gankeshuangqing group, and 63.77% in control group, and both groups showed good therapeutic effect, and there were significant differences between the two groups (Plt;0.05)；only one patient in Gankeshuangqing group had constipation during the treatment, but there was no evidence showing that it is caused by Gankeshuangqing. Conclusion The results show that Gankeshuangqing Capsule has a definite effect on wind-heat syndrome (acute upper respiratory infection or acute bronchitis) with good safety.
This paper is to reveal how the traditional practice is being challenged by evidence-based medicine and it also indicates where does the best evidence come from, how to find and classify them. This paper will also show the clinicians how to practice evidence-based medicine, especially in the treatment of respiratory disease in a step by step fashion. Finally this paper will guide the Chinese physicians how to solve the commonly confronting problems in practicing evidence-based medicine.
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of sparfioxacin in treatment of the acute respiratory tract infections. Methods A randomized-controlled clinical trial was carried out. Sparfloxaein 200 mg once daily and ofioxacin, as a control drug, 200 mg twice a day, both drugs were given by infusion for 7-14 days. There were 30 cases in each group. Results The clinical cure rates and the clinical efficacy rates of the two groups were 33.33%, 26.67%, and 80.00%, 76.67 % respectively. The bacterial clearance rates were 89.66% and 89.29% respectively. The adverse drug reaction rates were 13.33% and 16.67% respectively. There were no statistical differences between the two groups (Pgt;0.05). Photosensitive reaction was not observed in this study. Conclusion Sparfloxacin was effective in the treatment of the respiratory infections.
Objective To investigate the quality of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) integrated with western medicine for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Method All the randomized controlled trials of traditional Chinese medicine integrated with western medicine for SARS worldwide were gained by electronic searching and hand searching. The quality of the RCTs was analyzed by the quality grade evaluation used in Cochrane handbook.The sample size, the baseline data, the results indexes were also analyzed. Results Seven RCTs included 501 SARS cases were identified. The quality grade of one RCT is B, the other six RCTs were graded C. None pre-specified sample size. One RCT tested the differences of the baseline data by statistic method. One RCT reported quality of life as result index. None reported the adverse events.Conclusions Current RCTs of TCM integrated with western medicine can’t provide b evidence for clinical practice because of the poor quality.
Objective To study the epidemic and clinical characteristics of three clusters of early cases of severe acute respiratery syndrome (SARS) in Shenzhen. Methods To retrospectively investigate three clusters of patients. To extract data on clinical presentation and laboratory studies. Results In the first cluster, one patient with SARS in Shenzhen had visited Hong Kong twice in one week. He had felt initial cold and fever in Hong Kong on January 14, while the second case had been onset of SARS when he had been back from Hong Kong. There were 5 people infected in the second cluster at the same time 1 week after they visited their father in a hospital in GuangZhou. Among the three clusters, two clusters had not been infected in ShenZhen, they are inputted, and another cluster is not clear, but it maybe inputted. Three clusters are distributed, they all had high fever. Among them, five had total body muscular soreness and unproductive cough, four with headache, three chill, and two dizziness and pharyngalgia. Three cases had asthma and diarrhea 1 week after the onset of SARS, and progressed to ARDS. The six patients with SARS in Shenzhen People’s Hospital tested positive for coronavirus-related anti-body (IgG) in their plasma 10-15 d after the onset. This IgG titres in one patient remained high (1∶640) 120 days after the onset. Neutrophilia and lymphopenia occurred in patients who died. The more severe the patients’condition was, the higher was the level of LDH increased. Conclusion In three clusters, most patients had not infected in Shenzhen, they are inputted and distributed. That patients with SARS tested positive for coronavirus-related IgG in their plasma.
Objective To assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty （UPPP） in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep aponea syndrome （OSAS ）. Methods MEDLINE （1966 -2005 ）, EMBASE （1984 - 2005 ）, The Cochrane Library （Issue 1, 2005 ）, CBM （1979 - 2005 ）, CNKI （1994 - 2005 ）, VIP （ 1989 - 2005 ）, CMCC （1994-2005） ,Wanfang Database and Internet were searched in English and Chinese versions. Randomized controlled trials（ RC,Ts）, quasi-randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies were included. Study quality was evaluated by two researchers independently. RevMan4.2.7 was used for meta-analysis.Results Twelve studies were included, of which 5 were RCTs, 7 were prospective cohort studies. Compared with dental appliance（DA）, PSG （polysomnography） changes of DA group were larger than UPPP group, but patients of UPPP group had better quality of life and compliance. Comparing UPPP with LAUP （laser-assisted uvulopalatpharyngoplasty ） and RFTVR （radiofrequency tissue volume reduction）, the postoperative pain of the latter two was less than UPPP. About complications, UPPP and LAUP had no difference except for nasal reflux at 1 week after operation, there was no statistical difference between UPPP and RFTVR. There was no study to compare the PSG change among the three groups. Comparing UPPP with CPAP （continuous positive airway pressure）, PSG changes were larger in CPAP. Conclusions At present, there is no evidence to assure that UPPP is better than other treatments for snoring and OSAS or to suggest which type of surgery is most effective.The literature search is restricted to the publications of English and Chinese language, which may have resulted in missing some studies; the evidence is still weak due to the poor quality and a small number of included studies. There is an urgent need for high quality RCTs to be carried out.
The artificial ventilation system is a multi-factor system with some high uncertain risks which should be under controlled by medical risk management of hospitals. The key suggestions for reducing the accidence caused by ventilator are recommented： 1 ） to clarify the risk factor of ventilators, 2 ） to set up management group of ventilators with a clinical engineer who is good at management and quality control of medical equipment on ventilators, 3 ） to develop ventilator clinical practice for safety use, 4 ） to explore the effective risk monitoring and early warning system and mechanism on ventilator application.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on pulmonary function,perception of dyspnea and quality of life in stable COPD patients of different severity. Methods300 patients with COPD in stable stage were divided into a moderate COPD group (n=120),a severe COPD group (n=100) and a very severe COPD group (n=80). Each group was randomly subdivided into a control group and a treatment group. The treatment groups received pulmonary rehabilitation for 6 months in addition to usual care,and the control groups received usual care without pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary function(FEV1),6 minute walking distance (6MWD),modified medical research council (mMRC) scale,and acute exacerbation frequency of COPD were compared before and after intervention and among groups. ResultsAfter pulmonary rehabilitation for 6 months,the quality of life score and 6MWD were significantly improved in the treatment groups with moderate,severe,very severe COPD,and the increscent of 6MWD was greatest in the severe COPD patients. The mMRC of the patients with very severe COPD improved significantly after pulmonary rehabilitation(P<0.05). Lung function before and after the intervention in three groups all showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The acute exacerbation frequency of the severe COPD patients was significantly reduced by pulmonary rehabilitation (P<0.05), while there was no significant change in the moderate and very severe groups (P>0.05). ConclusionPulmonary rehabilitation can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life of COPD patients with different severity,reduce acute exacerbation frequency in severe COPD,reduce the dyspnea degree in very severe COPD. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a cost-effective treatment for stable COPD.
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of pazufloxacin for the treatment of moderate and severe acute bacterial respiratory infections.Methods A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of pazufloxacin versus levofloxacin. Patients in the pazufloxacin group were treated with pazufloxacin (500 mg twice daily for 7 to 10 days), and patients in the levofloxacin group were treated with levofloxacin (300 mg twice daily for 7 to 10 days). Results A total of 134 patients were enrolled in the study, 68 cases in pazufloxacin group and 66 cases in levofloxacin group were assessable for clinical efficacy by full analysis set(FAS). At the end of the treatment, in FAS analysis the total cure rates and effective rates were 52.9% and 86.7% in pazufloxacin group, 57.6% and 87.9% in levofloxacin group, in PPS analysis the total cure rats and effective rates were 57.1% and 93.7% in pazufloxacin group respectively, 61.3% and 93.6% in levofloxacin group. The bacterial clearance rates were 92.5% and 94.3% respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Adverse reactions were observed in 16.2% of patients in the pazufloxacin group and in 16.7% of patients in the levofloxacin group. These reactions were mainly local stimulation, nausea and diarrhea. No serious adverse event was reported in either group. Conclusion Pazufloxacin is as effective and safe as levofloxacin for the treatment of moderate to severe acute respiratory infections.