Objective To assess the influence of dexmedetomidine on the recovery of pediatric patients after sevoflurane anesthesia. Methods Such databases as PubMed (1966 to March 2012), The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2012), EBSCO (ASP) (1984 to March 2012), Journals@Ovid Full Text (1993 to March 2012), CBM (1978 to March 2012), CNKI (1979 to March 2012), VIP (1989 to March 2012), and WanFang Data (1998 to March 2012) were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the influence of dexmedetomidine on the recovery of pediatric patients after sevoflurane anesthesia, and the references of the included studies were also retrieved. Two researchers extracted the data and evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies independently. Then the RevMan 5.2 software was used for meta-analysis. Results A total of 16 RCTs involving 1 217 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the placebo, dexmedetomidine could reduce the occurrence of emergence agitation (OR=0.18, 95%CI 0.13 to 0.25, Plt;0.000 01) and increase the occurrence of postoperative lethargy (OR=0.14, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.68, P=0.01), but there were no differences in the occurrence of side effects including bronchospasm, bucking, breathholding, and oxygen desaturation. Dexmedetomidine could also reduce mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) of pediatric patients during the recovery period after sevoflurane anesthesia, but it increased emergence time (MD=2.14, 95%CI 0.95 to 3.33, P=0.000 4), extubation time (MD=1.26, 95%CI 0.51 to 2.00, P=0.000 9) and the time of staying in PACU (MD=4.72, 95%CI 2.07 to 7.38, P=0.000 5). Conclusions For pediatric patients recovering from sevoflurane-based general anesthesia, dexmedetomidine can reduce the occurrence of emergence agitation, and is helpful to maintain the hemodynamic balance. But it prolongs emergence time, extubation time (or the time of using the laryngeal mask) and the time of staying in PACU, and increases the occurrence of postoperative lethargy.
Objective To systematically review the impacts of general anesthesia using sevoflurane versus propofol on the incidence of emergence agitation in pediatric patients. Methods Such databases as PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2012), CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data and VIP were electronically searched from inception to December 2012, for comprehensively collecting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the impacts of general anesthesia using sevoflurane versus propofol on the incidence of emergence agitation in pediatric patients. References of included studies were also retrieved. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. Results A total of 9 RCTs involving 692 children were included, of which, six were pooled in the meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis showed that: a) after anesthesia induction using sevoflurane, intravenous propofol maintenance was associated with a lower incidence of emergence agitation compared with sevoflurane maintenance (RR=0.57, 95%CI 0.39 to 0.84, P=0.004); and b) patients anesthetized with total intravenous propofol had a lower incidence of emergence agitation compared with total inhalation of sevoflurane (RR=0.16, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.39, Plt;0.000 1). Conclusion The incidence of emergence agitation after general anesthesia using sevoflurane is higher than that using propofol. Due to the limited quantity and quality, the application of sevoflurane should be chosen based on full consideration into patients’ conditions in clinic.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of topical fluoride on prevention of enamel demineralization during the orthodontic treatment in China. Methods The Cochrane Library（Issue 9, 2012), MEDLINE (1996 to 2012.10), EMbase (1974 to 2012.10), CNKI (1994 to 2012.10), VIP (1994 to 2012.10), WanFang data (1998 to 2012.10) and CBM (1978 to 2012.10) are searched for the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-Randomized controlled trials (qRCTs) about topical fluoride preventing enamel demineralization during the orthodontic treatment. The bibliographies of the included studies were searched, too. Two reviewers evaluated the quality of the included studies and extracted data critically and independently, and then the extracted data were analyzed using RevMan 5.2 software. Results A total of 20 studies within 19 articles were included, which involved 26 323 teeth. The results of meta-analysis results show that, the rate of enamel demineralization of the fluoride varnish group (8.4%) was lower than that of the control group (16.0%) (OR=0.44, 95%CI 0.33 to 0.59, Plt;0.000 01); the rate of enamel demineralization of the fluoride coating group (8.3%) was lower than that of the control group (17.7%) (OR=0.46, 95%CI 0.35 to 0.60, Plt;0.000 01); the rate of enamel demineralization of the fluoride toothpaste group (9.0%) was lower than that of the control group (14.5%) (OR=0.59, 95%CI 0.49 to 0.71, Plt;0.000 01); the rate of enamel demineralization of the fluoride foam group (11.6%) was lower than that of the control group (18.2%) (OR=0.48, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.96, P=0.04); the rate of enamel demineralization of other groups (12.0%) was lower than that of the control group (21.8%) (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.30 to 0.60, Plt;0.000 01). Two outcomes were low quality in the GRADE system and the other three are very low quality. Conclusion Current domestic evidence shows that topical fluoride is effective to prevent enamel demineralization during the orthodontic treatment. However, given the low methodological quality of most included studies, this conclusion still needs to be further proved by conducting more strictly-designed, high-quality and large-scale studies.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of implanted sustained-release fluorouracil in gastric cancer surgery. Methods Literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 6, 2012), CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data from inception to June, 2012. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-randomized controlled trials on implanted sustained-release fluorouracil for gastric cancer were included. Two reviewers independently identified the literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and then extracted the data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.1 software. Results A total of 7 studies involving 742 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed no significant difference in the rate of postoperative complications between the two groups (OR=0.93, 95%CI 0.54 to 1.59, P=0.79), while a significant reduction was found in the recurrence rate in the sustained-release fluorouracil group during 1 to 3 year follow-up (1 year after surgery: OR=0.32, 95%CI 0.22 to 0.46, P=0.02; 2 years after surgery: OR=0.19, 95%CI 0.08 to 0.42, Plt;0.001; 3 years after surgery: OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.24 to 0.67, P=0.004). As for the survival rate, no significant difference was found between the two groups 1 year after surgery (OR=1.98, 95%CI 0.92 to 4.25, P=0.08), while it was significantly higher in the sustained-release fluorouracil group than in the control group 2 to 3 years after surgery (2 years after surgery: OR=2.63, 95%CI 1.17 to 5.91, P=0.02; 3 years after surgery: OR=2.42, 95%CI 1.53 to 3.83, P=0.002). Adverse reaction rates in the sustained-release fluorouracil group were lower than those in the control group, but without significantly differences between the two groups (OR=1.22, 95%CI 0.49 to 3.07, P=0.67). Conclusion Compared with the control group, implanted sustained-release fluorouracil for gastric cancer can significantly reduce the recurrence rate 1 to 2 years after surgery and improve the overall survival rate 2 to 3 years after surgery without increasing the incidences of the postoperative complications and adverse reaction. However, due to the limitation of quantity and quality of the included studies, this conclusion should be further confirmed by more high quality, larger sample and multi-center RCTs.
Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods We electronically searched the following databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMbase, WanFang Data, CBM, CNKI and VIP to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness and safety of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy vs. hepatectomy alone for PLC from inception to October, 2012. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 6 RCTs involving 951 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy significantly decreased the total recurrence rates of 1-year and 3-year (1 year: RR=0.48, 95%CI 0.36 to 0.65, Plt;0.000 01; 3 years: RR=0.69, 95%CI 0.50 to 0.96, P=0.03). However, the two groups were alike in decreasing the surem levels of AFP. Besides, the commonly-seen adverse reaction of implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy included abdominal pain and bile leakage. Conclusion Implanting sustained-release 5-fluorouracil during hepatectomy can decrease the 1-year and 3-year recurrence rates of PLC patients, especially for HCC at the early stage. But this conclusion should be interpreted with caution and needs more strictly-designed RCTs with large sample size and enough long follow-up to verify.
Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fluoxetine in treating premature ejaculation (PE). Methods All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on fluoxetine treating PE published from July 1996 to May 2012 were collected in the following databases: MEDLINE, EMbase, PubMed, Ovid, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CBM and CKNI. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, literature screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 6 RCTs involving 221 patients were included finally. The results of meta-analysis showed that, as for effectiveness, there was no significant difference in the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) between the two groups before the treatment (WMD=–0.21, 95%CI −4.79 to 4.37, P=0.93), but the IELT of the fluoxetine group was obviously longer than that of the control group after the treatment, with a significant difference (WMD=134.54, 95%CI 79.78 to 189.30, Plt;0.000 01). The results of sensitivity analysis indicated that the IELT of the fluoxetine group was longer than that of the control group, with a significant difference (WMD=155.19, 95%CI 130.64 to 179.75, Plt;0.000 01). As for safety, the fluoxetine group was higher in the incidence of adverse reaction than the control group, with a significant difference (OR=5.49, 95%CI 2.43 to 12.38, Plt;0.000 1). Conclusion Current evidence indicates that fluoxetine can improve the symptoms of PE patients, obviously prolong the IELT, and improve the quality of sexual life; and it is tolerable to patients with mild adverse reactions and is suitable for long-term intake. For the limited quantity of the included studies, we herein believe that, to obtain more evidence, it is necessary to further confirm the diagnosis and therapeutic criteria of PE, to design and conduct more multicenter and large scale clinical studies by adopting the internationally recognized indexes, and to perform a long-term follow-up．
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of COX inhibitor flurbiprofen axetil in relieving propofol injection pain and preemptive analgesia after general anesthesia. Methods Databases such as PubMed, CBM, Springer, Ovid, CNKI and ISI were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about flurbiprofen axetil in relieving propofol injection pain and preemptive analgesia after general anesthesia published from 2000 to 2010. The methodological quality of the included RCTs was assessed and the data were extracted according to the Cochrane Handbook 5.0.1. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 4.2.10 software. Results A total of 15 RCTs involving 1 425 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that: a) Relieving propofol injection pain: Compared with the placebo group, flurbiprofen axetil could prevent the propofol injection pain (RR=3.13, 95%CI 1.08 to 9.11, P=0.04), and relieve the moderate and severe pain in injecting propofol (RR=0.57, 95%CI 0.40 to 0.81, P=0.002; RR=0.14, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.34, Plt;0.000 1, respectively), but there were no significant differences in relieving mild pain between the two groups; b) Preemptive analgesia: the visual analog scale (VAS) of post-operation at 2-hour (WMD= –2.25, 95%CI –4.20 to –0.29, P=0.02), 4-hour (WMD= –1.99, 95%CI –3.19 to –0.79, P=0.001), 8-hour (WMD= –1.39, 95%CI –1.86 to –0.93, Plt;0.000 01) and 12-hour (WMD= –2.70, 95%CI –4.73 to –0.68, P=0.009) was decreased when flurbiprofen axetil was injected before the operation, but there were no significant differences in VAS of post-operation at 48-hour between the two groups. When flurbiprofen axetil was injected at the end of the operation, VAS of post-operation at 12-hour (WMD= –0.94, 95%CI –1.73 to –0.16, P=0.02) was decreased, but there were no significant differences in VAS of post-operation at 24-hour between the two groups; flurbiprofen axetil could lessen the need for opioid analgesics (RR=0.47, 95%CI 0.27 to 0.82, P=0.008); and c) Safety: there were no significant differences in postoperative nausea, vomit and somnolence between the two groups. Conclusion Flurbiprofen axetil can significantly prevent or relieve the propofol injection pain; flurbiprofen axetil injected before operation can relieve post-operative pain at 2-, 4-, 8- and 12-hour; flurbiprofen axetil injected at the end of the operation can relieve post-operative pain at 12-hour. Yet more RCTs are required to discuss its effects on nausea, vomit and somnolence.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of flunarizine for refractory epilepsy. Methods Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from the database of PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, and VIP, and the related references were traced to obtain the information. The methodological quality of included RCTs was assessed using Jadad scale and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of eight studies involving 545 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses showed that: based on the conventional therapy, compared with placebo and none-treatment, flunarizine was more effective on adults and children with refractory epilepsy (OR=2.98, 95%CI 1.88 to -4.73; OR=33.75, 95%CI 4.13 to -276.00). Major adverse events of flunarizine were fatigue, dizziness, headache, and weight gain etc. All those symptoms except for the weight gain were observed in the early stage of medication, which might get self-cured or could disappear by constant medication or reducing the dose or symptomatic treatment. Conclusion The present study shows that based on the conventional therapy, flunarizine is effective and safe for refractory epilepsy.
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 assess the effectiveness and safety of nine lipid-lowing agents in the national essential drug list (2000) and provide evidence for the adjustment and selection of essential drugs. Methods Based on principles of health technology assessment (HTA) and evidence-based medicine, we searched for all published clinical studies about these drugs from the following databases: MEDLINE (1966-2002.8), The Cochrane Library, EMBASE (1974-2002), CBMdisk (1979-2002.8) and VIP (1989-2002.8), the database of National Center for Adverse Drug Reaction(ADR) Monitoring of China and the database of WHO Uppsala drug monitoring center. Included studies were appraised, analyzed and compared for the reduction of triglyceride (TC) or low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), the prevention for the coronary events and the incidence of ADR. Results The results from comparative trials for lipid-lowing agents showed that the equivalent dose of statins for 25% reduction of LDL-C was atorvastatin 10 mg/d, simvastatin 20 mg/d, pravastatin 40mg/d, lovastatin 40 mg/d, cerivastatin 0.3 mg/d and fluvastatin 80 mg/d. It was difficult to compare fenofibrate with gemfibrozil, acipimox with statins or fibrates based on available data. The study on the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events showed that pravastatin and lovastatin were effective in primary prevention, and long-term use could reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease.Gemfibrozil could reduce the mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) but the overall mortality was not changed. Pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, fluvastatin, gemfibrozil and fenofibrate had a confirmed effect in secondary prevention. Data from large-scale clinical trials and the reports from ADR monitoring center of England, America, Canada and Australia suggested that the statins which had rare ADR were safe and tolerated. Rhabdomyolysis was rare but had a serious adverse reaction associated with statins. The rate of fatal rhabdomyolysis related to cerivastatin was the highest among 6 statins. The safety of simvastatin, lovastatin and atorvastatin was lower than cerivastatin but higher than simvastatin and atorvastatin. The number of ADR reports of fenofibrate was fewer than that of gemfibrozil. Conclusions At present, the best evidence focused on pravastatin, simvastatin and lovastatin are widely used and have a confirmed safety and efficacy. Atorvastatin, fluvastatin and fenofibrate still need more data to confirm their effects on coronary heart disease prevention. The drugs which were shown to be inferior or insufficient evidence are cerivastatin, gemfibrozil and acipimox.