The WinBUGS software can be called from either R (provided R2WinBUGS as an R package) or Stata software for network meta-analysis. Unlike R, Stata software needs to create relevant ADO scripts at first which simplify operation process greatly. Similar with R, Stata software also needs to load another package when drawing network plots. This article briefly introduces how to implement network meta-analysis using Stata software by calling WinBUGS software.
Stata is statistical software that combines programming and un-programming, which is easy to operate, of high efficiency and good expansibility. In performing meta-analysis, Stata software also presents powerful function. The mvmeta package of Stata software is based on a multiple regression model to conduct network meta-analysis, and it also processes "multiple outcomes-multivariate" data. Currently, the disadvantages of mvmeta package include relatively cumbersome process, poor interest-risk sorting, and lack of drawing function in the process of conducting network meta-analysis. In this article, we introduce how to implement network meta-analysis using this package based on cases.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene -308G/A polymorphism and the risk of endometriosis (EM). MethodsDatabases including PubMed, EMbase, CBM, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data were searched to collect case-control studies about the association between TNF-α gene -308G/A polymorphism and the risk of EM from inception to October 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then Meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 12.0 software. ResultsA total of seven case-control studies were included, which involved 687 patients and 877 controls. The results of meta-analysis showed that, AA genotype carriers presented 2.06-fold (OR=2.06, 95%CI 1.10 to 3.83, P=0.02) and 1.94-fold (OR=1.94, 95%CI 1.18 to 3.18, P<0.01) higher risk of EM than GG genotype carriers and AG+GG genotype carriers, respectively; but sensitivity analysis showed that the robustness of these results was unstable. No statistical significance was found in the allele model, co-dominant model, and dominant model (A vs. G: OR=1.37, 95%CI 0.87 to 2.17, P=0.18; AG vs. GG: OR=1.09, 95%CI 0.77 to 1.53, P=0.63; AA+AG vs. GG: OR=1.29, 95%CI 0.95 to 1.77, P=0.11). While excluding studies that controls were not in HWE, no significant association was observed in these five genetic models; and no significant association was found in the results of subgroup analysis by ethnicity. ConclusionThe AA genotype of TNF-α gene -308G/A polymorphism might contribute to the risk of EM, but the association between other genotypes and EM susceptibility is unclear. In addition, due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of Q-syte separating film needleless closed transfusion connector in flushing chamber of three-cavity urethral catheter.MethodsTo retrospectively analyze the patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor for non muscle-invasive bladder cancer from January 2015 to July 2016 in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. After terminating the continuous bladder irrigation, the observed group used Q-syte separating film needleless closed transfusion connector to seal the flushing chamber of three-cavity urethral catheter, and control group used conditional approach to connect drainage bag. The degree of comfort and satisfaction of patients, urinary tract infection, time of stopping bladder irrigation and bladder perfusion time between two groups were assessed.ResultsA total of 88 patients were included involving 63 (72%) males and 25 (28%) females with a mean age of 60.2±4.7 years. There were no significant differences between two groups in age, gender, BMI, and complications (P>0.05). Compared to control group, case group had higher level of comfort degree (mild discomfort: 86.4% vs. 25.0%, P<0.001; moderate discomfort: 13.6% vs. 52.3%, P<0.001; severe discomfort: 0.0% vs. 22.7%, P=0.001), satisfaction degree (97.9±2.1 vs. 84.5±3.9, P<0.001), and lower rates of urinary tract infection (11.4% vs. 29.5%, P=0.034). In addition, the case group spent shorter time in terminating bladder irrigation (50.48±1.78 vs. 207.74±5.41, P<0.001) and bladder perfusion (141.47±3.25 vs. 205.35±5.17, P<0.001). All differences were statistical significance.ConclusionsApplication of Q-syte separating film needleless closed transfusion connector for sealing flushing chamber of three-cavity urethral catheter after continuous bladder irrigation could promote the degree of comfort and satisfaction of patients, and decrease the rate of urinary tract infection, as well as the working efficiency of health care professionals.
Evidence is the core of Evidence-Based Medcine; the Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE System) is a milestone in the history of evidence development. This paper outlines the GRADE System and GRADEpro 3.2 software, and briefly explores the right and wrong application which was published in the Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. The GRADEpro 3.2 software is easy to operate, but for evaluating the reasons of upgrade and downgrade, and the importance of the parameters of outcomes, it needs to comprehensively and systematically understand the knowledge of relevant background, and to construct a solid foundation in clinical epidemiology and systematic review. In view of this paper based on the current GRADE System, there may be some discrepancy to the later content with the GRADE System constant improvement. Therefore, it is bly recommended that readers should keep constant learning and improving.
The key for performing meta-analysis using WinBUGS software is to construct a model of Bayesian statistics. The hand-written code model and Doodle model are two major methods for constructing it. The approach of hand-written code is flexible and convenient, but the language programming is fallibility. The Doodle is complicated, but it is benefit to understand the structure of hand-written code model and prevent error. This article briefly describes how to construct the Doodle model for binary and continuous data of head to head meta-analysis, indirect comparison and network meta-analysis, and ordinal variables meta-analysis.
NetMetaXL is a macro command to conduct network meta-analysis in the frame of Microsoft Excel on basis of Bayesian theory. This macro command, which was officially launched in 2014, integrates data extraction and entry, analysis results output and graph plotting as a whole. Currently, this version contains enough optional models, and all operations are through menu and easy to conduct; however, it is appropriate only for the network meta-analysis based on dichotomous variables, which still has fairly a lot to be enhanced and improved. This article gives a brief introduction based on examples to implement network meta-analysis using NetMetaXL.
ITC (Indirect Treatment Comparison) software and indirect procedure of Stata software are especially used for indirect comparison nowadays, both of which possess the characteristics of friendly concise interface and support for menu operation. ITC software needs the application of other software to yield effect estimation and its confidence interval of direct comparison firstly; while Stata-indirect procedure can complete direct comparison internally and also operate using commands, which simplifies complicated process of indirect comparison. However, both of them only perform "single-pathway" of data transferring and pooling, which is a common deficiency. From the results, their results are of high-degree similarity.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene promoter-308 G/A polymorphism and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Chinese population by meta-analysis. MethodsThe casecontrol studies about the correlation between TNF-α gene polymorphism and AS in Chinese population were retrieved from PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data and VIP database by two researchers. The retrieval time was from their establishment to December, 2015. After the paper screening, data extraction, and assessment of bias risk, the metaanalysis was conducted by Stata 12.0 software. ResultsA total of 11 case-control studies involving 1 154 AS patients and 1 458 controls were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, for Chinese population, there was no significant association between TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism and AS susceptibility (A vs. G: OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.47, P=0.86; AA vs. AG: OR=0.97, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.84, P=0.93; AA vs. GG: OR=0.92, 95% CI 0.32 to 2.61, P=0.87; AA+AG vs. GG; OR=1.04, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.80, P=0.89; AA vs. AG+GG: OR=1.03, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.82, P=0.92). ConclusionTo date, it has not found the relationship between TNF-α gene promoter-308 G/A polymorphism and AS in Chinese population. For the quantity and quality limitation of the included studies, the conclusion has to be verified by more large-scale highquality studies.